COVID-19 virus still lingering in Durham Region

The COVID-19 virus is still present in Durham Region though the numbers are still quite low, as they have been for several months.

New cases in Durham is up slightly from three weeks ago to 15 (from 13), though positive tests in local hospitals are down to four from the nine reported in the middle of last month.

The weekly incidence rate (per 100,000 population) is up to 2.0 from 1.8, the per cent positivity rate is also up a bit to 4.8 per cent (from 3.7 per cent) and there are two outbreaks in local retirement centres, hospitals and long-term care homes, from zero three weeks ago.

After seeing one death from the virus last month that total is back to the optimum number of zero.

Durham’s Health Department is still recommending vulnerable individuals get a booster vaccine shot but are now advising that vaccine boosters should be delayed until the fall when ‘respiratory season’ begins.