A 78-year-old man is the first resident to die in a COVID-19 outbreak at a Newmarket group home.
The man passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10 at The Newmarket Residence community living home at 3248 Davis Dr. with COVID-19 acquired in the outbreak declared 10 days ago by York Region Public Health, according to York Region spokesperson Patrick Casey.
The positive test result was received Feb. 5, followed by symptom onset on Feb. 8.
The group home outbreak was declared with one positive resident case on Feb. 3, then jumped to 26 resident cases on the following day.
As of Feb. 13, a total of 27 of the home's 70 residents and three staff members are confirmed with COVID.
"When the initial exposure was reported, all residents were tested and subsequently reported to public health within the standard turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours," Casey said. "In alignment with (Health) Ministry guidance, specimens are being tested to determine if any are COVID-19 variants of concern."
The public health unit, social services, paramedics services and staff from Ontario Health Team are working collaboratively with the home’s operator to provide support to the staff and residents and do all that is possible to limit the spread, he said.
The facility is privately owned and operated by Icilda Tate.
According to The Newmarket Residence website, the facility on an 11-acre rural site provides 24-hour support and supervision to vulnerable adults with physical or cognitive impairments.
The Newmarket man is the 37th resident to die with COVID-19, accounting for two per cent of the 1,512 cases reported since Newmarket's first case on March 4, 2020. Twenty-eight, or 76 per cent, of Newmarket's COVID related fatalities are linked to acquisition in institutional outbreaks, including long-term care and retirement homes and hospitals.
As of today, 500 residents in York Region have died with COVID, with 340 or 68 per cent linked to institutional outbreaks.
