New COVID-19 cases in Ontario surge to 14-week high

TORONTO -- Ontario has recorded a significant spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases, reporting the highest number of new infections in 14 weeks.

Health officials reported 313 new cases on Monday, the highest number of new infections since June 5.

The new COVID-19 cases come after 204 were reported on Sunday and 232 were reported Saturday.

Ontario reported one additional COVID-19-related death on Monday, bringing the provincial total to 2,816.

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The total number of lab-confirmed infections in the province now stands at 44,817, including 39,974 recoveries and deaths.

There are now 2,027 active cases in the province. Monday's tests resulted in a positivity rate of 1.06 per cent. It hasn't been that high since early June.

Where are the new COVID-19 cases?

Toronto is reporting the most new COVID-19 cases in the province, recording 112 in the previous 24-hour period.

Peel Region reported 71 new cases while Ottawa reported 60. All other public health units recorded fewer than 10 new cases, except for York Region, which reported 14 new infections.

Of the new patients, the vast majority are between the ages of 20 and 39, with 167 new cases reported.

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There were 43 new cases in people under the age of 19. In the 40 to 59 age group, there were 71 new cases. There were 30 new cases in people above the age of 60.

There are currently 47 people in the hospital being treated for the disease, although health officials said approximately 35 hospital did not submit data on Monday.

Ontario is reporting 313 cases of #COVID19 as nearly 30,000 tests were completed. 78% of today's cases are from three regions, with 112 in Toronto, 71 in Peel and 60 in Ottawa. All other PHUs have fewer than 10 new cases, except for York with 13 cases. 15 PHUs have no new cases.

— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) September 14, 2020

"We anticipate the number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increase," the government said.

Seventeen of those patients are in the intensive care unit and eight are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.

In a tweet published Monday morning, Health Minister Christine Elliott said nearly 30,000 tests were completed in the previous 24-hour period.

There are 19,260 tests that are currently investigation. 

Last week, Ontario announce it's pausing any further steps in its reopening plan due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said the "latest trend in numbers have raised some concern, especially as we begin to reopen schools and post-secondary institutions."

Elliott said that based on advice from Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams and the public health measures table, Ontario will take "a pause of four weeks" before the province considers any further loosening of public health measures or further reopening of businesses, facilities or organizations. 

"We did not make this decision lightly," Elliott said. "We are really concentrating on getting all of our students back to school safely and having them remain healthy but the reality is that spread in the community will also likely mean spread in the schools, so we need to limit the spread in the community as much as possible."

Elliott said the pausing of restrictions means Ontario won't allow for things like expanded social circles, expanded gathering sizes and greater increases in the number of people allowed to attend sports events.