Editor's Note: This article and its headline have been changed to reflect the fact that York Region public health has retracted its report of a Newmarket COVID-19 related fatality. A 74-year-old man from King died April 1.
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York Region's medical officer of health identifies Newmarket as one of the municipalities that has yet to reach its peak in coronavirus cases.
Overall, York Region public health is reporting one of the lowest daily increases in confirmed COVID-19 cases since they began to dramatically increase on March 12 — 12 new cases, to reach 464 in total today, April 6.
Newmarket has two additional cases, now totalling 32, including another frontline health-care worker.
"I'm cautiously optimistic that we may be reaching the peak or plateau in York Region," said Dr. Karim Kurji in a video update for April 6. "However, there are still some pockets in York Region where the trajectory is high — Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Newmarket, to a lesser extent."
Outbreaks continue at certain locations in the region, he said, including four long-term care centres in Markham, a group home, and two gyms in Vaughan.
Public health has also identified additional clusters at two Longo’s locations in Vaughan. Seven staff at 9200 Weston Rd., and one at 2810 Major Mackenzie Dr., have tested positive for COVID-19.
"York Region Public Health has followed up with the cases and has identified anyone they may have come into contact with. None of the cases is currently working in the stores, and contact investigation is expected to be completed by tomorrow," according to a statement yesterday. "Longo’s continues to be extremely cooperative throughout this investigation."
The number of hospitalized patients in York Region continues to increase, from 34 to 36 today, with 19 cases remaining critically ill in ICU. Two Newmarket patients remain in ICU.
The total number of infected health-care workers, which may include physicians, nurses and paramedics, increased with an additional case in Newmarket, now totalling 38: six in Newmarket; one in Aurora, three in Whitchurch-Stouffville; four in Richmond Hill, eight in Vaughan; and 15 in Markham.
The number of resolved cases has increased from 52 to 55 since yesterday.
As of today at 4:30 p.m., 10 COVID-19 patients are in Southlake's ICU. The number of COVID-19 patients in an inpatient unit has increased to five, while seven inpatients are under investigation.
Of the 464 cases in York Region:
- 212 are confirmed in Vaughan (+ 2 today), 4 deaths;
- 107 in Markham (+ 7 today), 11 deaths;
- 71 in Richmond Hill (+ 4 today);
- 32 in Newmarket (+2 today), 1 death;
- 14 in Aurora;
- 10 in Whitchurch-Stouffville;
- 8 in King (- 1 today), 1 death;
- 6 in East Gwillimbury;
- 1 in Georgina.
In York Region, the majority of cases are aged 55 to 64 (21 per cent), followed by 45 to 54-year-olds (18 per cent). The number of cases aged 20 to 34 has increased to 17 per cent.
