New COVID cases up to 76 as numbers continue to rise day-over-day, Whitby sees the most at 22

Durham Region is seeing the rate of new COVID-19 infections continue to rise as the week marches on, with 76 new cases reported on Wednesday (Mar 16), up from a low of 29 reported on Sunday. Nearly that number was reported from Whitby today.

Each day this week has seen more infections than the day before with 63 on Monday, 75 on Tuesday and 76 today contributing to 345 active cases in the Region.

By municipality, the case numbers break down to; 22 in Whitby, 15 in Oshawa, 12 in Pickering, 11 in Ajax, nine in Clarington, three in Scugog, two in Uxbridge, and two in Brock.

In Lakeridge Health hospitals, 19 COVID patients are currently admitted, four of whom are in the intensive care unit. Fortunately, the Region reported zero new deaths yesterday and today, following a death in Oshawa on Tuesday. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 448 Durham residents, 241 of whom lived in long term care.

Four long term care homes in Durham have active outbreaks with a total of 18 cases. Ajax’s Ballycliffe Lodge reports two active cases, Oshawa’s Hillsdale Terraces reports seven, Pickering’s Abbeylawn Manor reports two, and Whitby’s Village of Taunton Mills reports seven.

There are no outbreaks reported in schools or childcare centres at the moment, with the last outbreaks in Courtice and Pickering declared over in January.

Absenteeism in schools and child care also remain low across the board. Childcare has 6.8 per cent of staff and students home. Elementary schools report 3.6 per cent out of class and high schools report a 2.6 per cent absent rate.

Workplaces follow suit with no outbreaks reported since January either.