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COVID-19 pandemic in the Regional Municipality of York
Disease COVID-19
Virus strain SARS-CoV-2
Location Regional Municipality of York, Ontario, Canada
Confirmed cases69,733
Active cases6,839
Recovered62,111
Deaths
783
Fatality rate1.12%
Government website
york.ca/covid19
Sunday service at Central United Church in the Markham neighbourhood of Unionville is livestreamed online during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pandemic has affected the Regional Municipality of York since early 2020 and has led to lockdowns as well as stay-at-home orders made by the Government of Ontario. A vaccination program began in December 2020 and is currently ongoing.

Background

On March 18, 2020, the municipalities of Aurora and Newmarket declared an emergency due to increasing community spread of COVID-19. [1] By the next week, the provincial government declared an emergency and imposed immediate public health measures.

Timeline

February 2020

February 25 – a woman from Iran returning to York Region tests positive for COVID-19. This was the first case reported in York Region. [2]

March 2020

March 23 – the provincial government orders all non-essential businesses (e.g. restaurants, mall retail) to close. Gathering limits are introduced. Due to the hardship imposed on businesses, subsidies and financial relief measures were introduced. [3]

April 2020

April 10 – an outbreak at Participation House, a care home takes place. Participation House is a care home for adults with developmental disabilities. [4]

Government response

Transit

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a lockdown, York Region Transit reduced service. School routes were cancelled. To reduce contact between the driver and passengers, boarding was done at the back door [5] and fares were not collected until July 2, 2020, when front-door boarding resumed. [6]

Impacts

Business closures and cancellations

COVID-19 has led to shutdowns of non-essential businesses in York Region, such as restaurants, movie theatres and gyms. This happened at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. By July 2020, non-essential businesses were permitted to open in stage 3, but were closed again on October 19, 2020. [7]

Schools

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, COVID-19 forced schools in York Region to close for the rest of the academic year. [8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "UPDATED: Coronavirus prompts Newmarket, Aurora to declare states of emergency". March 18, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ "How the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in York Region". August 31, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "How the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in York Region". August 31, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "How the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in York Region". August 31, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "YRT service changes begin on Sunday May 2". May 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Masks mandatory on YRT effective July 2, 2020". June 30, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Ontario moves York Region to modified Stage 2 as COVID-19 cases rise". October 16, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "Pages - Novel Coronavirus Update".

External links