Flu surpasses COVID for number of hospitalizations in region

The number of patients in hospital suffering from the effects of influenza surpassed COVID patients this week.

The latest update on the Region of Waterloo's respiratory disease surveillance dashboard shows nine patients are in hospital with flu while six are in hospital with COVID.

COVID resulted in one death over the last week, a woman in her 90s. It brings the total number of COVID deaths so far this season to 31.

There have only been four outbreaks of influenza in high-risk settings the entire season. COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared in 142 instances while three outbreaks are ongoing.

There were 25 recent cases of flu and 36 recent cases of COVID.

Wastewater data up to March 18 shows COVID-19 has plateaued with variability in Kitchener and Cambridge.

The total number of reported influenza cases in the region since the season began is 615 while 2,623 cases of COVID-19 were reported.

There are no cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the region.