The Region of Waterloo officially entered Step 2 of Ontario’s reopening framework on Monday. The move brought an ease of COVID-19 restrictions, including the reopening of outdoor performances and personal care services.
Last Friday, the province announced they would be moving into Step 3 of their reopening plan on July 16. If the Waterloo Region is allowed to enter Step 3 along with the rest of the province, there would be less than five days between Step 2 and 3.
Heading into Step 3 of the reopening plan would allow indoor dining to resume and for fitness facilities to re-open.
In the push for more vaccine doses in residents, the record for single day vaccine administrations in the Waterloo Region was broken last Saturday. Kitchener’s “Every Dose Counts” clinic at Bingemans saw approximately 4,904 shots administered, with more appointments and walk-ins throughout the rest of the weekend.
During a briefing last Friday, medical office of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang reported that since May 1, 72.2 per cent of regional COVID-19 cases were among those who were unvaccinated. She noted that 24.8 per cent of cases were among individuals who were not yet fully protected from the vaccine or were partially vaccinated.
With these numbers in mind, local public health officials continue to urge all residents to get immunized with a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinics are now available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am – 4pm at Waterloo Public Square.
As of last Friday, more than 80 per cent of adults in the region have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. More than 18 per cent of those aged 18 and older have received both doses.
As of July 14, Waterloo health officials have confirmed 18,058 total cases of COVID-19, including approximately 280 deaths. Approximately 279 cases are considered active in the Region.
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