The CEOs of three York Region hospital networks are warning that the healthcare system is at a tipping point due to rising COVID-19 cases.

In a joint statement, the chief executives of Mackenzie Health, Markham Stouffville Hospital and South Lake Regional Health Centre say they are concerned a significant increase in cases could impact the hospitals’ ability to carry out regular services.

York Region’s medical officer of health has been urging the provincial governing PCs to leave the area in the red zone rather than ramping up to a lockdown, claiming hospitals in the region were coping well.

Now Dr Karim Kurji says indicators for the region are not looking too good.

“Various metrics do not seem to be boding well for us,” Dr. Kurji explained to CP24, “So we are on a path which may very well lead us to a lockdown depending on the very processes and various monitoring that goes into making these various decisions.

Dr. Kurji will be a guest on Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with Libby Znaimer on Wednesday at about 12:30pm.

The latest data from the province indicates York Region had a seven day rolling average of 107.6 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people for the period ending December 4th. That’s a 17.6 percent increase from the previous week.

While York Region has been in the red control zone of restrictions since November 23rd, Toronto and Peel have been in lockdown.

Across Ontario, nearly 800 people with COVID-19 are hospitalized including 219 in intensive care.