The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to soar in York Region, with another 66 cases today bringing its total to 1,034, with another death in Vaughan among 47 fatalities.
Cases in Newmarket also continue to steadily climb, with another six cases today bringing its total to 87, with 10 cases resolved.
COVID-19 cases acquired as a result of an institutional outbreak has become the major cause of transmission in Newmarket, with 40 individuals — or 46 per cent — infected in a long-term care home or community care setting.
The number of individuals aged 80 and over with confirmed cases of COVID-19 has dramatically increased, as well, accounting for 23 per cent of Newmarket's 87 cases — the same percentage for individuals aged 55 to 64.
The public health unit continues to report a growing swath of outbreaks across the region — at 14 long-term care homes and 16 community care settings in Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Keswick, Pefferlaw, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Markham and Vaughan.
The number of COVID-19 outbreaks at community care facilities increased to 16 with the addition of Community Living York South.
Among the 14 long-term care facilities and retirement homes under COVID-19 protocols are Southlake Residential Care Village, Eagle Terrace Long-Term Care Home and Mackenzie Place Long-Term Care in Newmarket, and Chartwell Aurora Long-Term Care Residence.
Of the 1,034 cases in York Region:
- 462 are confirmed in Vaughan (+ 27 today), 14 deaths;
- 263 in Markham (+ 20 today), 25 deaths;
- 107 in Richmond Hill (+ 5 today), 3 deaths;
- 87 in Newmarket (+ 6 today), 2 deaths;
- 47 in Aurora (+ 1 today), 1 death;
- 18 in King, 2 deaths;
- 17 in Whitchurch-Stouffville (+ 3 today);
- 15 in East Gwillimbury (+ 1 today);
- 14 in Georgina (+ 1 today).
The number of hospitalized patients in York Region remains at 45 today, with 21 cases critically ill in ICU.
Resolved cases in the region now tally 131, which is 13 per cent of the total 1,034 cases.
As of 4 p.m. April 18, Southlake Regional Health Centre is reporting six COVID-19 patients in ICU, and eight COVID-19 patients in inpatient units. Total deaths remain at five.
There are 52 infected health-care workers: seven in Newmarket; one in Aurora, three in Whitchurch-Stouffville; five in Richmond Hill, 13 in Vaughan; and 23 in Markham.
Editor's Note: This article was edited April 20 to remove two facilities that were incorrectly included on the York Region public health list of community care settings under COVID-19 protocols. The number of community care homes with COVID-19 outbreaks was also adjusted.
