York Region public health is reporting a total of 55 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with two additional cases in Vaughan, while Ontario is confirming a total of 503, with 78 cases added this morning, March 23.
In York Region, a case of a woman in her 70s is under investigation, and a woman in her 60s, a close contact case, is in self-isolation.
The nine additional cases being reported by the province for York Region this morning have previously been reported by York Region public health.
The province has been lagging behind in its reporting, according to a Region of York spokesperson Patrick Casey, who confirmed the regional reporting is accurate.
"I think there is hope out there," York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji said in a news conference, revealing that the region's first case has fully recovered and several other asymptomatic individuals are awaiting confirmation their cases have also been resolved.
"Together, we can get through these difficult times and I have every confidence that we'll get through this difficult time," he said.
A 72-year-old Markham woman died shortly after returning from travel yesterday from Tahiti and France, via Los Angeles, marking York Region's first death related to COVID-19. Her son and daughter-in-law are now is self-isolation in Toronto, Kurji said.
Of the 16 new York cases confirmed yesterday, March 22, including a Newmarket man in his 60s who is in self-isolation, York Region has added new details indicating the cases are travel related and close contact. Two of the individuals, a man in his 60s in Markham (close contact) and a man in his 70s in Vaughan (travel) are in hospital.
A larger number of individuals are being classified as under investigation, Kurji said, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify travel as the source of infection.
Kurji added he is "fairly convinced" there is local transmission of COVID-19 occurring in York Region.
He emphasized the crucial importance of social distancing and hand-washing.
A COVID-19 outbreak at Markhaven Home for Seniors was declared yesterday as a precaution, which means anyone with symptoms at the facility is assumed to be a positive case of COVID-19, Kurji added. A woman in her 70s at the Markham long-term care centre has tested positive for COVID-19.
Of the 55 cases in York Region, 22 are in Vaughan; 17 in Markham, eight in Richmond Hill, three in Newmarket, two in East Gwillimbury, two in Aurora and one in Stouffville.
A Bradford West Gwillimbury woman is in serious condition with a community-acquired COVID-19 case at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.
The province provided some case details this morning for the 78 new confirmations, but there are 29 on the list without any information about the originating health unit or cause of transmission. Of the cases with the information listed, there are 15 attributed to close contact, and 12 linked to travel, the rest are listed as "pending".
There are now six deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Ontario, and eight cases are resolved.
With the increasing severity of the COVID-19 outbreak, Ontario has now launched an enhanced and interactive self-assessment tool.
"In a matter of seconds, this tool will help people determine if they are negative or it will provide them with guidance on where to seek care based on their needs. Critically, the enhanced tool provides the province with real-time data on the number and geography of users who are told to seek care, self-isolate or to monitor for symptoms," according to a government news release today.
