York Region hits record-high COVID-19 testing; positivity low at schools

Of the 3,105 school community results received so far -- Newmarket wasn't included -- only 17 are positive, accounting for positivity rate of 0.5 per cent

Newmarkettotday.ca
Dec. 23, 2020
Debra Kelly

Testing for COVID-19 continues at record-high levels in York Region, including more than 3,200 from asymptomatic staff, students and families who took part in a voluntary initiative underway at 30 schools.

The highest number of lab results to date in York Region -- more than 22,430 tests -- were processed from Dec. 13 to 19, the most current data, at a positivity rate of six per cent. As of Dec. 21, 1,317 are confirmed positive.

The week prior, Dec. 6 to 12, was the previous record breaker with 21,460 specimens collected, with a positivity rate of six per cent. Positive tests tallied 1,228.

During the last three weeks, 3,215 staff, students and families from 22 elementary and secondary schools were tested as part of the voluntary initiative offered in all municipalities except for Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.

"There were no schools selected from Newmarket or East Gwillimbury due to proximity to a COVID-19 assessment centre and no secondary schools in East Gwillimbury," according to York Region director of communications Patrick Casey.

Of the 3,105 results received by Dec. 21, 3,090 are negative and only 17 are positive -- which is a 0.5 per cent positivity rate, Casey added.

No positive tests have been confirmed for the schools in Aurora, Georgina, King and Richmond Hill.

Twelve of the 17 positive cases are from Markham, where testing occurred for St. Francis Xavier Catholic Elementary School, Coppard Glen Public Public School and Markham Gateway Public School -- all of which have had students and staff with confirmed cases previously. The positivity rate is 4.5 per cent.

Vaughan had three positive cases, with a positivity rate of 1.1 per cent, while Whitchurch-Stouffville had two, for a 0.04 per cent positivity rate.

The voluntary school testing program, which the province launched last month for asymptomatic students and staff in regions that had a high number of active COVID-19 cases, continues for another week.

Ontario Health is conducting the testing at community locations, such as secondary school gyms, while York Region Public Health nurses are also on site to provide assistance and answer questions, Casey said.

York Region Public Health has conducted case follow-up and contract tracing with all positive cases identified through the initiative.

Overall, the rising numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases, whose close contacts are highly recommended to also be tested, is accounting for the increase, Casey said.

"As the number of cases across the province has been increasing, more individuals would be identified as close contacts who would subsequently be seeking testing."

Also, the hike in York Region's overall testing numbers can, in part, be attributed to increased testing at long-term care homes, additional pharmacies offering testing for asymptomatic individuals, as well as the implementation of the targeted school-based testing, he added.

Testing numbers are inching upwards weekly at each of the region's three hospitals, where the assessment centres are located.

From Dec. 13 to 19, Southlake Regional Health Centre processed 4,491 tests, compared to about 4,000 during the previous two weeks. However, the highest number of tests to date, more than 6,500, were processed in the last week of September.