COVID numbers back on positive downward trend but two new deaths reported in Ajax

After a couple of days with rising COVID-19 cases, new positive case numbers have begun to trend in the right direction with new case totals down 56 from Wednesday and the active case count down 31.

There were, however, two more deaths in the region with one reported yesterday and one late reporting fatality from Wednesday. The death count in Durham Region since the pandemic began is now 426.

Hospital cases are down, with 109 in Durham hospitals with the virus (from 120 Wednesday), with nine in ICU (from 10). The number of people in hospital “under investigation” for having contracted the virus is also down, from 75 to 56.

There are no workplace outbreaks on record right now.

Oshawa (as per usual) led the way in new positive cases of the virus with 32. Uxbridge reported just one.

Institutional outbreaks remain consistent, with 26 outbreaks in long-term care homes and retirement residence (down one) and 78 people self-isolating (up nine). The biggest outbreaks are at Bon Aire in Cannington (12) and Orchard Villa in Pickering (10).

An outbreak at Hillsdale Estates in Oshawa – where eight residents died late last year – that started nearly six weeks ago and affected 125 residents and staff, is now almost completely resolved, with just three people still isolating.