COVID-19 in Waterloo region's wastewater remains high at 3 testing sites

University of Waterloo researchers, who test wastewater in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo for COVID-19, say signals for the virus are trending downwards but overall numbers remain high.

The wastewater data, which is released each Friday, notes testing shows the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is dominant in the region.

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported 51 people were in hospital with the virus, while five people were in the intensive care unit either with, or recovering from, COVID-19.

The province reported1,662people in hospital with COVID-19 on Friday, with the number inching downward for the second consecutive day.

There have been 412 deaths linked to the virus in the region since March 2020.

There were 22 outbreaks as of Friday:

• 11 in long-term care and retirement homes.
• Eight in congregate settings.
• Three in hospitals.

The region's vaccination dashboard, which is updated on Thursdays, indicated:

• 84.3 per cent of all residents have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• 81.5 per cent of all residents have two doses.
• 48.7 per cent of all residents have a third or booster dose.

Children aged five to 11 are the least vaccinated age group in the region, with 54.4 per cent having received one dose and 40.6 per cent having received two doses. Children in this age group are not yet eligible for a third or booster dose.

There is still no approved vaccine for children aged four and younger.