York Region reporting 2 additional COVID-19 deaths

The Regional Municipality of York is reporting two new fatalities related to COVID-19, bringing the region's total to four.

A male in his 80s, a resident at Markhaven Home for Seniors in the City of Markham died Saturday, March 28, and a 100-year-old female in Vaughan died  Sunday, March 29.

Public health reported a COVID-19 outbreak at Markhaven March 22, after a resident tested positive.  

The Vaughan woman was a close household contact to the region’s second COVID-19 related death, a woman in her 80s with multiple underlying health conditions who died March 26 after being tested March 23.

Another members of the household also tested positive,  according to public health officials.  

The region's medical officer of health is to provide an update at 5 p.m. today, which will be streamed live on York Region's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts.

York Region's first COVID-19 related death was a 72-year-old Markham woman who died March 21 hours after she returned home from travel in Tahiti and France via Los Angeles.

As of this morning, York Region has 212 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

"On behalf of York Regional Council, I extend sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of these two individuals," York Region chairman Wayne Emmerson said in a statement today. 

"Although many continue to make great efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, this is an important reminder of the severity of the current pandemic. It remains critically important for everyone to maintain physical distancing and practice good hand washing. We must all do our part by staying home and only going out for essential trips.

"We will get through this, but only if everyone does their part to protect the health and safety of everyone in our communities, especially those who are most vulnerable.”