COVID-19 cases, hospital rates on the rise in Durham Region

COVID-19 cases in Durham Region are on the rise with 1,111 new cases reported last week, an average of 159 per day. Hospital cases are also high with 35 currently in hospital, including 24 new hospital cases in the seven-day period from April 3-9.

There are two people in hospital and one new death was reported in Durham last week, bringing the total numbers of deaths in the region in the past two years to 470.

Outbreaks in long-term care homes, residences and hospitals are also rising with 17 outbreaks reported.

More than 5,700 COVID-19 tests were performed last week with a 16.9 positivity rate. The weekly incident rate per 100,000 people was 151.5.

Absentee rates in schools and day cares are up a bit from previous weeks but are on par with absentee rates from typical flu seasons pre-COVID. The absentee rates for child care centres was 6.9 per cent and in elementary schools the number is 6.8 per cent, which is higher than desired. In secondary schools the rate is 4.5 per cent.