The province of Ontario is reporting 78 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 this morning.
At least one of them is from the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit. The province reports the area woman (her hometown has not yet been identified) is in her 60s and acquired the virus through travel in Egypt, Israel and London. She is self isolating.
Dr. Charles Gardner confirmed today the woman is a resident of New Tecumseth and she was tested at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville. The positive result was confirmed two days ago.
There are now at least ten confirmed cases in the region. Two have died, two are hospitalized and six are recovering at home. The SMDHU has announced there is evidence of community transmission in the region.
Today’s confirmed cases bring the provincial total to 503 positive COVID-19 patients, with eight resolved.
The province provided some case details this morning for the 78 new confirmations, but there are 29 on the list without any information on what health unit they are from or how the virus was contracted.
Of the cases with information listed, there are 15 attributed to close contact, and 12 linked to travel, the rest are listed as "pending."
There are now six deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Ontario.
Two men have died at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie. One Barrie man in his 70s and one Alberta man (visiting Barrie) also in his 70s. The hospital confirmed the two men were related.
A 51-year-old Milton man died March 18 at an Oakville Hospital, the man is believed to have acquired the virus in the community.
A Markham woman in her 70s died this weekend, and her case was linked to travel.
A Toronto man in his 70s with no pre-existing health conditions died on March 22 in a Toronto Hospital. He had travelled to the UK.
Also on March 22, a man in his 80s died at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay. His case is also believed to be community-acquired.
