Respiratory virus data tracker app.

Respiratory Virus Activity in Durham Region

Home Health and Wellness COVID-19Respiratory Virus Activity in Durham Region

Welcome to the Durham Region Respiratory Virus Data Tracker

The Data Tracker dashboard presents updated information about COVID-19 positive tests, hospitalizations and deaths, influenza cases, institutional outbreaks, and wastewater surveillance in Durham Region.

Durham Region Respiratory Virus Data Tracker

Respiratory virus data tracker frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How are data on infectious disease cases collected?

The Health Department receives notifications of positive laboratory results for all disease of public health significance for Durham residents from all Ontario laboratories. These results are received electronically or by fax and entered into the provincial database Integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS).

Why are case counts for COVID-19 no longer available?

Due to changes in the provincial data system, confirmed COVID-19 cases are no longer available for reporting. Durham Region Health Department continues to monitor respiratory virus using the best available data. This includes COVID-19 test positivity data to monitor COVID-19 activity in the community.

How are COVID-19 deaths counted?

A COVID-19 death reported on the Data Tracker is a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness in a confirmed COVID-19 case. The number of deaths includes those for which COVID-19 is the underlying cause of death, COVID-19 contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death, and those with type of death listed as unknown or missing. It excludes deaths where the cause of death is unrelated to COVID-19 (e.g., trauma).

When is an outbreak declared in an institution?

An institutional outbreak is one that occurs in a long-term care home (LTCH), retirement home (RH) or hospital. Outbreaks in congregate living settings such as group homes and shelters are not counted as institutional outbreaks.

For LTCHs and RHs, a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak is currently defined as: two or more residents with a common epidemiological link (e.g., same unit, floor, etc.), each with a positive molecular or rapid antigen test, within a 7-day period, where both cases have reasonably acquired their infection in the home.

Epidemiological link is defined as reasonable evidence of transmission between residents/staff/visitors and there is a risk of transmission of COVID-19 to residents within the home.

For hospitals, a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak is defined as two or more patients with a common epidemiological link (e.g., within a specified area/unit/floor/ward), both with positive results from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test OR rapid molecular test OR rapid antigen test within a 7-day period where both cases have reasonably acquired their infection in the acute care facility.

COVID-19 outbreak definitions have changed throughout the pandemic. Prior to April 8, 2021, only one case of COVID-19 occurring in a resident or staff was needed for an outbreak to be declared in a LTCH or RH.

A confirmed respiratory infection outbreak (other than COVID-19) is defined as two cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) within 48 hours with any common epidemiological link (e.g., unit, floor), at least one of which must be laboratory-confirmed, or three cases of ARI (laboratory confirmation not necessary) occurring within 48 hours with any common epidemiological link (e.g., unit, floor).

Any outbreak where influenza was identified is reported under the appropriate influenza category (Influenza A or Influenza B) regardless of what other virus is also identified in the outbreak. Examples of respiratory infections include rhinovirus, metapneumovirus and parainfluenza virus.

Note that the definitions above are for surveillance purposes only. Public health units have the discretion to declare an outbreak when investigating suspected cases and conditions in institutions, including when the above definitions are not completely met.

What is a confirmed case?

Confirmed case definitions for each infectious disease of public health significance are provided on the Ministry of Health website.

Why are your numbers sometimes different from what is reported provincially or by hospitals?

Health statistics including infectious disease case counts, COVID-19 positive tests, hospitalizations, deaths, and institutional outbreaks from the provincial systems are dynamic and always changing. The day that the data are extracted can make a big difference because data are continually being processed.

Why did the total number of hospitalizations change in June 2024?

Due to changes in the provincial data system hospitalization data about Durham Region residents is no longer available for reporting. From June 12, 2024 onwards, the Respiratory Virus Data Tracker presents information about COVID-19 hospitalizations from bed census data from hospitals in Durham Region. This data includes residents from outside of Durham who are hospitalized in Durham hospitals, resulting in larger total hospitalization counts than previously reported. This is a change in measurement, and does not reflect changes in respiratory virus activity.

Why is COVID-19 wastewater data no longer available?

COVID-19 wastewater data is no longer available due to the wind down of the provincial Wastewater Surveillance Initiative. We would like to thank all our partners that supported this initiative including the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Ontario Tech University, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Durham Region Works Department, including the Corbett Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) and the Darlington WPCP. Durham Region Health Department continues to monitor respiratory virus activity using the best available data. This includes COVID-19 test positivity data to monitor COVID-19 activity in the community.

Respiratory virus summary reports

Check out our epidemiological reports to learn more about respiratory virus activity in Durham Region

Status of COVID-19 in Ontario

For information regarding the status of COVID-19 in Ontario, including Durham Region, see the Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool.

Definitions

Confirmed influenza cases

The total number of Durham Region residents with laboratory confirmation of influenza infection. Individuals infected more than once will have each infection counted as a new case. For the influenza case definition, see the Ministry of Health website.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number confirmed new admissions for COVID-19 within Durham Region hospitals, this includes people who live outside of Durham Region but who are patients in Durham hospitals.

Deceased COVID-19 cases

Reflects the number of deaths resulting from a clinically compatible illness in a confirmed COVID-19 case. It includes deaths for which COVID-19 is the underlying cause of death, COVID-19 contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death, and those with type of death listed as unknown or missing. It excludes deaths where the cause of death is unrelated to COVID-19 (e.g., trauma). There may be a time delay between receiving the test result or notice of the death and entering the death into iPHIS.

Reported date

Refers to the date the case was reported to public health.

Episode date or Onset date

Is the best estimate of when the disease started and refers to the date when symptoms first appeared, or if not available, the date the sample was taken for the laboratory test.

Percentage of positive tests

The percentage of positive tests among all COVID-19 laboratory tests conducted in Durham Region residents that week. As of December 31, 2021, PCR testing in Ontario was focused on higher risk individuals who were more likely to test positive, pushing the percent positivity up.

Data sources

COVID-19 Outbreaks and Deaths up to June 1, 2024: Public Health Case and Contact Management (CCM) Solution.
COVID-19 Outbreaks and Deaths June 2, 2024 onwards, all Influenza Cases, and all Influenza and other Respiratory Outbreaks: Integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS).
COVID-19 Laboratory Test and Percent Positivity: Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS).
COVID-19 Hospitalizations: Ontario Ministry of Health Bed Census Summary.
Wastewater Viral Signal: Ontario Wastewater Surveillance Initiative viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection; in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University and Ontario Tech University.
Secondary and Elementary School Absences (Durham District School Board, Durham Catholic District School Board, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, and Conseil scolaire Viamonde): school board absenteeism reporting to the Health Department.
Child Care Absences: voluntary child care centre absenteeism reporting to the Health Department, response rates vary by week.

COVID-19 data tracker evaluation

Infographic of COVID-19 Data Tracker Evaluation

The Respiratory Virus Data Tracker was created with the assistance of the Region of Durham's Corporate Services - Information Technology Division and the Data, Mapping & Graphics Group within the Planning & Economic Development Department.