This week, Ontario health officials reported 269 new infections, the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since early August.
The province’s seven-day average currently stands at 364, which is down from 407 last week. According to the Ministry of Health, the positivity rate stands at approximately 1.5 per cent.
On Monday the province lifted capacity restrictions in most places that require proof of vaccination, such as restaurants, indoor sports facilities, gyms and event spaces, leaving many business owners feeling “cautiously optimistic.”
The province hopes to gradually lift all COVID-19 public health restrictions by March 2022. However, this plan may change depending on indicators such as the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 and the rise of any new variants.
This weekend, regional health officials reported 50 more COVID-19 cases, many being in young people under the age of 30. The total case count since the pandemic began has officially passed 20,000.
Health officials in Waterloo Region have also noted that more than 87 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated and 90.72 per cent have received at least one dose.
As of Oct. 27, Waterloo health officials have confirmed 20,020 total cases of COVID-19, and approximately 107 cases are considered active. There have been 302 COVID-related deaths in the region.
Kaitlyn Severin
Student Journalist of the Year - JHM award winner, Kaitlyn has worked previously as The Cord’s senior news editor. She’s also published articles for VICE and Shameless.