York Region marks 7th COVID-19 death (Update)

York Region marks 7th COVID-19 death (Update)

A third resident of a Markham long-term care residence has died

Stock photo

Editor's Note: The headline and article have been edited to reflect the fact that Southlake Regional Health Centre has retracted its report of a third death.

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York Region is reporting a seventh fatality, a 68-year-old woman who was a resident at Markhaven Home for Seniors, where a COVID-19 outbreak was declared March 22 and two other residents have died.

The woman, who died March 28, did not have any coronavirus symptoms prior to her death, however, a positive test result was received today, York Region spokesperson Patrick Casey said.

To date, two coronavirus-related deaths have occurred in Vaughan, and five in Markham, the two municipalities where clusters of confirmed cases have been identified. All the individuals have been aged over 70, except for the seventh death that occurred March 28.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in York Region has hit 364, with Newmarket seeing its largest single-day increase with six additional cases today, April 2.

The total cases in Newmarket jumped from 18 to 24 today, about seven per cent of the total cases in the region's nine municipalities.

As of yesterday at 4:30 p.m., 10 COVID-19 patients — two of whom are awaiting test results — are in Southlake's ICU. The number of COVID-19 patients in an inpatient unit has increased from one to three, while 12 patients are under investigation. The number of individuals who have tested positive at the assessment centre and are in self-isolation has jumped from 39 to 47 since March 31.

Last week, March 22 to 29, York Region saw its additional cases jump from 60 to 149, while this week, so far, 136 new cases have been confirmed.

The majority of the cases are now under investigation at 43 per cent, with 41 per cent in self-isolation, six per cent in hospital, and eight per cent resolved.

Of the 364 cases in York Region: