New COVID cases hit 74 in Durham Tuesday – one new death in Oshawa

COVID-19 numbers remain a little higher than we want – especially after just 29 new cases were reported in Durham on Sunday – but new case numbers of 74 and 62 in the past two days are not yet worthy of concern.

The one new death reported in Oshawa Tuesday is more worrisome and much more tragic. The death put the total number of people to die in Durham Region from the virus at 448.

There are 19 people in hospital with the virus (down from 25 the day before), with four in ICU.

Oshawa, with 21, reported the highest number of cases Monday while Whitby – still the region’s COVID-19 hotspot – led Tuesday’s numbers with 28.

Absentee rates for the week ending March 12 were also released today. The rate at childcare centres is 6.8 per cent; at elementary schools it is 3.6 per cent and at secondary schools it is 2.6 per cent.

The active case count for COVID-19 in Durham is 350.