The region’s death toll took a large leap on February 1 after a total of 12 patients succumbed after testing positive for COVID-19 between January 28 - 31.
All of them were Niagara residents who had tested positive for the virus, said a statement from Niagara Health.
The increase prompted Public Health to report the death toll at 490 on Tuesday.
The new caseload for Tuesday was 127, with 2,837 active cases in the region, according to the official numbers which are not a true reflection of how widespread the virus is in the region currently.
Niagara Health also reports 88 patients in area hospitals being primarily treated for COVID-19, and 26 others who have tested positive, but are in hospitals primarily for other reasons.
