The downward trend in new COVID-19 cases continues this weekend in York Region and Ontario, with 27 more cases yesterday pushing the region's total close to 2,000, while the province reported 340 new cases this morning, bringing its total to 22,653.
The number of daily new cases in York Region peaked April 13 with 70, and in Newmarket on April 19 with 20 new cases as results of tests at long-term care home had increases.
The number of new cases in Ontario spiked at 640 April 25 and has been trending downward since then, allowing for the launch of phase one of a three-phase recovery plan that saw golf courses and marinas reopen this weekend and, on Tuesday retail stores with street-front entrances.
“We are moving forward in a really good way right now and we just want to keep the numbers going down,” Premier Doug Ford said at a new conference at Queen’s Park Friday.
Meanwhile, resolved cases are steadily increasing, at more than 1,000 (50 per cent) of York Region's 1,994 cases today, and 17,360 (76.6 per cent) of Ontario's 22,653 cases. In Newmarket, resolved numbers are lagging with 49 (26 per cent) of 186 cases resolved.
While COVID-19 related deaths continue, they, too, are declining. York Region is reporting four additional deaths, now totalling 152, as it continues to struggle with outbreaks at long-term care homes.
Ontario is reporting 23 more deaths in COVID-19 patients over the last 24 hours, marking the fourth day in which the number of deaths was under 40 — far from the 86 deaths marked April 30.
Two more Georgina residents have died as a result of the outbreak at River Glen Haven Nursing Home in Sutton.
A 75-year-old man passed away Sunday, May 10 after the onset of symptoms May 9, with COVID-19 confirmed May 15.
A 90-year-old woman, passed away Friday, May 15 after testing positive April 27.
Eight residents have now died at River Glen Haven, where 62 residents and 24 staff at the 119-bed nursing home have been exposed — the second highest number of infected residents among York Region's 29 active outbreaks.
A 98-year-old Vaughan woman, who was asymptomatic, also passed away Friday, May 15 at Villa Leonardo Gambin Long-term Care, one month after testing positive. Eleven residents have now died as a result of the outbreak at the Woodbridge home managed by Sienna.
A 91-year-old Richmond Hill man died Friday, May 15 at the Mackenzie Health Reactivation Care Centre unit in Toronto, with COVID-19 confirmed the day of symptom onset May 1.
The number of resident/patient and health-care worker cases acquired in an outbreak is now 949, with deaths totalling 117, at 54 facilities across the region.
Outbreaks are active at 29 facilities, now including Markham Stouffville Hospital, with seven staff testing positive.
At Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, the second hospital in York Region to have COVID-19 cases confirmed, five health-care workers in a surgical unit tested positive.
Outbreaks have been resolved at 25 facilities now, including at Eagle Terrace Long-term Care Home in Newmarket, where one patient died, as well as at Sunrise of Unionville, where four residents died, and at Richview Manor Retirement Home in Vaughan, where two residents died.
In Newmarket, outbreaks have caused 144 of its 186 cases and 15 of its 18 COVID-19 related deaths.
There are 253 (3 more) 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 1,994 cases (+27 today) in York Region:
- 818 are confirmed in Vaughan (+ 8 today), 58 deaths, 494 resolved;
- 434 in Markham (+ 7), 44 deaths, 211 resolved;
- 217 in Richmond Hill, 8 deaths, 141 resolved;
- 186 in Newmarket (+2), 18 deaths, 49 resolved;
- 105 in Georgina (+ 2), 8 deaths, 10 resolved;
- 93 in Aurora (+2), 13 deaths, 38 resolved;
- 49 in Whitchurch-Stouffville (+2), 28 resolved;
- 45 in East Gwillimbury; 1 death; 12 resolved;
- 25 in King, 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.
