COVID-19 surge in Waterloo Region puts further reopening at risk

Waterloo Region may not join the rest of Ontario in further loosening pandemic rules next month if a current surge in COVID-19 cases continues.

The region’s top doctor says it may in fact have to reinstate some of the public health measures that were eased last week.

Waterloo reported 72 cases on Wednesday, the highest number of new cases logged in the province, more than the long-standing hot spots of Peel Region and Toronto.

Waterloo Region is experiencing an increased number of #COVID19 cases, hospitalizations and outbreaks, due to the usual risk factors combined with the spread of the Delta variant. Read more about what we are doing to combat the increased cases: https://t.co/mQ2tFfGSDK pic.twitter.com/8U29egmihB

— Region of Waterloo (@RegionWaterloo) June 16, 2021

The region has 494 active cases of the virus and is dealing with nine active outbreaks.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Waterloo’s medical officer of the health, says the highly transmissible Delta variant is likely behind the rise in cases, hospitalizations and outbreaks in the region.