York Region hits 70 COVID-19 cases; 3 patients in Southlake

The majority of the region's 7 new cases this morning are 'under investigation', indicating the possibility of growing community transmission in Vaughan, Markham

Newmarkettoday.ca
March 25, 2020
Deborah Kelly

York Region public health is reporting a total of 70 confirmed COVID-19 cases --including a girl in her "10s" in Markham --with a total of seven new cases in Vaughan, Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville this morning, March 24.

Southlake Regional Health Centre is reporting three patients are being treated for COVID-19 in its intensive care unit. As of 5 p.m. yesterday, another 34 people were under investigation for the respiratory disease.

The majority of the seven additional cases are under investigation, which York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji has said is an indication of the growing number of individuals who have been infected by local transmission or community spread, which means travel and close contact are not the sources of transmission.

The new cases reported by York Region public health are: a man in his 20s in Whitchurch-Stouffville (travel); a girl in her 10s and a man in his 20s (travel) in Markham; and men in their 40s and 60s, and women in their 40s and 50s in Vaughan.

A man in his 60s in self-isolation is Newmarket's third COVID-19 case.

Of the 70 cases in York Region, 27 are in Vaughan; 25 in Markham, eight in Richmond Hill, three in Newmarket, three in Whitchurch-Stouffville, two in East Gwillimbury and two in Aurora. One case is resolved, Dr. Kurji said.

The province, which ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses as of midnight today, is reporting a total of 588 cases, with 85 additional COVID-19 cases confirmed this morning March 24.

It dedicated website states 10,074 cases are under investigation, eight are resolved, and 32,457 individuals have been tested.

There are now seven deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Ontario, including this morning’s reported death.

Two men have died at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie. One Barrie man in his 70s and one Alberta man (visiting Barrie) also in his 70s. The hospital confirmed the two men were related.

A 51-year-old Milton man died March 18 at an Oakville Hospital, the man is believed to have acquired the virus in the community.

A 72-year-old Markham woman died Saturday, hours after returning from travel in Tahiti, France and Los Angeles.

A Toronto man in his 70s with no pre-existing health conditions died March 22 in a Toronto hospital following travel to the U.K.

Also on March 22, a man in his 80s died at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay. His case is believed to be community-acquired.

With the increasing severity of the COVID-19 outbreak, Ontario has now launched an enhanced and interactive self-assessment tool.