The death toll associated with COVID-19 oubreaks in York Region continued its steady increase to 40 in total today, with the deaths of two residents of an Aurora long-term care home, and another resident of Participation House in Markham.

A 73-year-old woman and an 87-year woman both died today, April 23, at Chartwell Aurora Long-term Care Residence, just over a week after testing positive. 

Three residents have now died of COVID-19 at the Aurora facility, including an 84-year-old woman who passed away Sunday, April 19.

A 70-year-old Markham man died yesterday, April 22, at Markham-Stouffville Hospital. He is the third death at Participation House, where 40 residents and 31 health-care workers have confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Institutional outbreaks, which span the region, have increased to 35, with addition of New Leaf The Maples in East Gwillimbury. 

Eleven more residents, totalling 275, at long-term care and group homes in York Region have COVID-19, and 17 more health-care workers (not all of whom live in York Region) totalling 218.

At least 348 of York Region’s COVID-19 cases — 27 per cent, the largest segment ― were acquired in an institutional outbreak.

Newmarket continues to see an increase outbreak cases, at 72 today — 58 per cent of its cases.   

Five more confirmed COVID-19 cases bring Newmarket’s total cases to 125. 

With 33 new cases yesterday — one of smallest daily increases in weeks — York Region has 1,278 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 68 COVID-19 related fatalities in total.

Resolved cases continue to rapidly increase, with 71 more cases today bringing the total to 409, or 32 per cent.

In Newmarket, one more case is resolved, now 24 of 125 cases.

Of 73 infected health-care workers: eight are in Newmarket; two in Aurora, three in Whitchurch-Stouffville; six in Richmond Hill, 21 in Vaughan; and 33 in Markham.

Of 1,278 cases in York Region:

• 554 are confirmed in Vaughan (+ 6 today), 25 deaths, 214 resolved;
• 319 in Markham (+ 10 today), 27 deaths, 72 resolved;
• 135 in Richmond Hill (+ 6 today), 4 deaths, 59 resolved;
• 125 in Newmarket (+ 5 today), 6 deaths, 24 resolved; 
• 54 in Aurora, 4 deaths, 16 resolved;
• 25 in Georgina (+ 1 today), 2 resolved.
• 25 in East Gwillimbury (+ 3 today), 4 resolved;
• 21 in Whitchurch-Stouffville (+ 1 today), 7 resolved;
• 19 in King, 2 deaths, 11 resolved.

The number of hospitalized patients in York Region decreased from 43 to 41 today, with 20 cases critically ill in ICU. 

As of 4:30 p.m. April 23, Southlake Regional Health Centre reported seven COVID-19 patients in ICU, and one patient under investigation in ICU. Eight COVID-19 patients are in inpatient units. The number of inpatients under investigation for COVID-19 is 29. Total deaths remain at five.