Busy COVID weekend in Durham with Clarington reporting 18 of the 63 new cases over three days

COVID-19 new cases in Durham Region dropped from a seasonal high of 42 Thursday to 28 on Friday and 21 Saturday before setting at 14 Sunday, giving health officials some hope they can keep the latest outbreak of the virus under control.

Whitby had the highest total on Friday with eight, with Oshawa and Clarington reporting six new cases each. Clarington had the dubious honour Saturday with nine new cases (Oshawa reported six), while Whitby’s four was the highest Sunday.

The number of active cases in the region stands at 157 and there is one Whitby resident in hospital.

Long-term care homes in the region are still COVID-free but there are two workplace outbreaks and four new outbreaks at schools and day cares, including five students home isolating at Newcastle elementary schools St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School and Newcastle Public School.

The fully vaccinated rate for Durham residents 12-and-up is now just under 84 per cent.