Waterloo Region public health is reporting four new deaths and 75 new cases of the coronavirus as of Saturday morning. There are now 23 deaths and 474 positive cases of COVID-19 in the region as a result. 

An outbreak has also been declared at Kitchener’s St. Mary’s Hospital on two separate floors. 

The 75-case jump is the biggest one-day increase in the region during the pandemic. However, as noted by Region of Waterloo’s acting medical officer Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, there has been much more testing, which will essentially result in many more positive cases. 

Two of the additional deaths reported are at Forest Heights Revera, bringing the total at the Kitchener long-term care home to seven. Cases continue to pile up at Forest Heights, as 79 residents and 39 staff have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Another additional death being reported is at Kitchener’s Highview Residences, bringing the total there to six. Fourteen residents and 10 staff members have tested positive. 

Meanwhile, two outbreaks were declared over by public health on Friday at Sunnyside and Chartwell Westmount long-term care homes in Kitchener. An additional outbreak was declared at The Village of Winston Park Retirement Home, where a staff member has tested positive. Cases at Trinity Village long-term care home in Kitchener are piling up as well as 13 residents and 13 staff have tested positive for the virus. There are 13 active outbreaks at long-term care homes. 

Twenty-two per cent of the cases of the virus in Waterloo Region are people in their 80s while 20 per cent are in their 50s. 

148 people have recovered from the virus, while 3,971 total tests have been taken. 

235 of the 474 confirmed positive cases of the virus are in relation to long-term care outbreaks. 155 of the region’s 474 cases are healthcare workers.