Another COVID death in the region this week

has claimed the life of another person in Waterloo Region this week, despite COVID-19 numbers trending down this week.

Region of Waterloo Public Health said in its weekly update Friday that a woman in her 90s has died. COVID was a direct or contributing cause in 38 deaths in the region so far this year.

The number of net new cases has declined from 129 last week to 100, and the moving rate of new cases has gone 2.9 per 100,000 residents to 2.4 per 100,000. Limited testing capacity means these numbers greatCOVID ly under-represent the current spread of COVID-19.

There are 11 active outbreaks in the region — seven fewer than last week — six in longterm care homes, three in congregate settings such as group homes or shelters, and two in hospital.

The longest-running outremains break in the region is at Hilltop Manor in Cambridge, which was declared Oct. 30. Since that time, the home has had 87 COVID cases: 23 in staff and 64 in residents. Two people have died at the home who had contracted the virus.

Wastewater monitoring indicates that COVID in Kitchener elevated with variability and in Cambridge has increased from the previous week.

Hospital numbers remain relatively stable from last week, with hospitalizations down one, from 46 to 45, and ICU patients down from two to none.