While the municipalities in southern York Region continue to carry the largest burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is creeping north with additional cases confirmed today in most of the northern municipalities.
York Region public health is reporting 604 confirmed cases, another 46 added today — including 23 new cases, as well as another death, in Vaughan.
However, cases were added in Newmarket, as well as Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Georgina today.
Newmarket continues to have the most cases in the so-called Northern 6 towns, now numbering 35 — which is six per cent of the region's total cases.
The majority of the Newmarket cases are males, at 63 per cent, and aged 55 to 64.
York Region's medical officer of health has identified Newmarket as one of the municipalities that has yet to reach its peak in coronavirus cases.
Twenty-four people have died in York Region as a result of COVID-19, with the majority of fatalities, 15, occurring in Markham. The number of resolved cases jumped from 70 to 76 since yesterday.
Outbreaks in the southern portion of the region, including at four long-term care centres in Markham, a group home, and two gyms and grocery stores in Vaughan, are continuing to fuel the cases there.
Of the 604 cases in York Region:
- 295 are confirmed in Vaughan (+ 23 today), 7 deaths;
- 134 in Markham (+ 12 today), 15 deaths;
- 84 in Richmond Hill (+ 4 today);
- 35 in Newmarket (+ 2 today);
- 22 in Aurora (+ 2 today), 1 death;
- 11 in Whitchurch-Stouffville;
- 11 in King, 1 death;
- 8 in East Gwillimbury (+ 2 today);
- 2 in Georgina (+ 1 today).
The number of hospitalized patients in York Region increased from 37 to 38 today, with 19 cases remaining critically ill in ICU. Nine Markham patients are in ICU, and two Newmarket patients remain in ICU. Thirty-nine per cent of the region's cases are in self-isolation.
As of 5 p.m. today, Southlake Regional Health Centre is reporting 10 COVID-19 patients are in ICU, and five COVID-19 patients are in an inpatient unit. Fifteen patients are under investigation for COVID-19.
The total number of infected health-care workers, which may include physicians, nurses and paramedics, remains at 41: six in Newmarket; one in Aurora, three in Whitchurch-Stouffville; four in Richmond Hill, nine in Vaughan; and 18 in Markham.
The majority of confirmed cases in the region are again among ages 55 to 64, and 45 to 54 (20 per cent each), while ages 20 to 34 make up 17 per cent. Ages 65 to 79 have increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of cases.
