The COVID-19 outbreak at Southlake Regional Health Centre has been declared over by York Region public health.
Sadly, an 85-year-old Newmarket resident who was exposed to COVID-19 as a patient at the Newmarket hospital passed away Saturday, May 9 in the outbreak that began when a health-care worker tested positive April 28.
The outbreak, the first in a York Region hospital, was initially confined to the medical assessment and consultation unit where the staff member worked, and where two patients tested positive positive on April 29.
At that time, six staff members and physicians had previously tested positive for COVID-19 after being exposed elsewhere, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Using the staff RFID badge system, the hospital was able to quickly identify staff and physicians who had contact with the infected staff member and patients.
However, additional COVID-19 cases were later confirmed at Southlake's unit at the Reactivation Care Centre in Toronto.
In total, four patients and four health-care workers tested positive.
Yesterday, an outbreak was declared at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, the second hospital in York Region to have COVID-19 cases confirmed. Five health-care workers on the fourth floor in a surgical unit of the D wing have tested positive.
In Ontario, outbreaks have been declared at 77 hospitals, and 52 patients have died. More than 640 patients and health-care workers have been infected with COVID-19 at a hospital.
York Region public health is reporting the deaths of three more residents of long-term care homes today, including two more at River Glen Haven Nursing Home in Sutton.
A 71-year-old Georgina man passed away Thursday, May 14 at River Glen after the onset of symptoms April 26 and a positive test May 5.
A 91-year-old Georgina man, who was asymptomatic, passed away Tuesday, May 12 at River Glen after testing positive May 9.
The 148th COVID-19 death in York Region is an 85-year-old Vaughan man who passed away today, after positive tests April 13 and May 2, at Kristus Darzs Latvian Home.
Six residents have now died at River Glen Haven, where 61 residents and 23 staff at the 119-bed nursing home have been exposed — the second highest number of infected residents among York Region's 31 active outbreaks.
A Southlake medical team and York Region paramedics were deployed to assist River Glen Haven in battling the outbreak declared April 27.
Newmarket's Mackenzie Place LTC continues to have the highest number of COVID-19 cases among the region's outbreaks, with 80 residents and 24 health-care workers testing positive.
Of the region's 148 COVID-19 related fatalities, 113 have occurred due to outbreak-acquired cases at one of 53 facilities, including long-term care, nursing and group homes.
In York Region today, 937 residents, patients and health-care workers (not all of whom live in York Region) have been infected by the virus as a result of an outbreak.
However, 22 outbreaks have now been declared over, including at New Leaf Farmhouse group home in East Gwillimbury today.
In Newmarket, outbreaks have caused 145 of its 183 cases and 15 of its 18 COVID-19 related deaths.
Resolved cases in the region have reached the 50 per cent mark, with 993 of 1,973 cases recovered. In Newmarket, 26 per cent of cases are resolved.
There are 250 York Region health-care worker cases, with more than half resolved.
The number of hospitalized patients in York Region is 82, with 21 cases critically ill in ICU. In Newmarket, eight residents are hospitalized, with none in ICU.
Of 1,973 cases (+28 today) in York Region:
- 810 are confirmed in Vaughan (+ 12 today), 57 deaths, 486 resolved;
- 429 in Markham (+ 6), 44 deaths, 212 resolved;
- 217 in Richmond Hill (+ 2), 7 deaths, 138 resolved;
- 184 in Newmarket (+2), 18 deaths, 48 resolved;
- 102 in Georgina (+ 2), 6 deaths, 10 resolved;
- 94 in Aurora, 13 deaths, 39 resolved;
- 47 in Whitchurch-Stouffville, 27 resolved;
- 45 in East Gwillimbury (+ 1); 1 death; 12 resolved;
- 25 in King (+ 2), 2 deaths, 19 resolved.
As of 1 p.m. May 15, Southlake Regional Health Centre has five COVID-19 patients in ICU, one under investigation. Nineteen COVID-19 patients are in inpatient units. The number of inpatients under investigation for COVID-19 is 19. Total deaths have increased by one to 15.
