Whitby outbreak fuels jump in COVID-19 cases in Durham Region

After a couple of days with new COVID-19 cases under 50 the virus made its presence felt once again in Durham Region yesterday after more than doubling the numbers reported from Monday.

One-hundred and three new cases were reported Tuesday, sparked by an outbreak in Whitby that was responsible for of 40 of them. The next highest total among Durham municipalities was Clarington with half that number at 20.

The active case count, after falling to 352 Monday (the lowest number in 2022), rose slightly to 377.

Cases at retirement and long-term care homes in Durham are down to three, with just seven people affected. Five of them are at Abbeylawn Manor in Pickering, one month exactly after the latest outbreak at the facility was declared. Twenty-one cases are considered resolved.

Absentee rates at child-care centres and Durham schools were also updated, with an 8.4 per cent absentee rate for the week of February 27-March 5 for day cares, 3.3 per cent for elementary schools and 2.5 per cent for high schools. None of the numbers are out of the ordinary, especially for this time of year.

Hospital numbers have not been released for a week, with sources saying staff is looking into the problem.