46 people in Waterloo region hospitals with COVID-19, 23 outbreaks reported by public health

The number of people in Waterloo region hospitals with COVID-19, and the number of outbreaks in high-risk settings, have risen dramatically in the last two weeks.

On July 1, there were 15 people in local hospitals with COVID-19. New numbers released Friday by Region of Waterloo Public Health showed as of Wednesday of this week, 46 people were in the hospital with the virus.

The number of outbreaks also rose by eight from last week to 23. They include:

• 13 in long-term care and retirement homes.
• Seven in congregate settings.
• Three in hospitals.

The region also reported two new COVID-related deaths this week, bringing the total in the region to 431 since March 2020.

It comes as provincial officials have warned a seventh wave of the virus has started.

WATCH|Ontario's top doctor on who should get a 4th COVID-19 dose and why some may want to wait.

Ontario's top doctor on who should get a 4th COVID-19 dose and why some may want to wait

2 years ago

Duration 0:40

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontarios chief medical officer, provides advice for Ontarians aged 18+ who may want to book the 4th COVID-19 dose starting July 14.

Wastewater signals plateau

Wastewater data, however, shows signals for COVID-19 appear to be plateauing throughout the region, although the regional dashboard said the virus remains at "an elevated level."

Mark Servos, a biologist from the University of Waterloo who is tracking COVID-19 in the region's wastewater,there's been a steady increase in the virus since early-June.

He said the region is still "very much below" the peak of the fifth or sixth wave but lately, the BA.5 variant has been increasing and is the dominant strain in the region.

Servos said the difference this summer compared to the previous two is that this year, there are no controls. That means people are generally going about their lives without masking or social distancing.

"Because this variant may be able to reinfect people, it may be able to spread very much rapidly, more rapidly than any of the other ones, we could see very rapid increase in spread of this particular variant," Servos told CBC K-W's The Morning Edition this week.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, encouraged people to take personal precautions such as getting vaccinated if they're not, wear a mask, keep a physical distance from people not in their households and to stay home if you don't feel well.

"You can do what you can to prevent it, but you know that you can't always prevent it. And that's OK. Keeping up with your vaccines will allow you at least the best chances of preventing severe outcomes," Wang said.