TORONTO -- Ontario is reporting a significant spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases, recording more than 400 infections for the first time in more than 15 weeks.
Health officials reported 401 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, which is the highest number of new cases since June 2 when 446 infections were added.
Friday's case count is also a large increase from Thursday when 293 new infections were reported.
The seven-day rolling average has now increased to 287, up from 260 on Thursday. With 35,862 tests conducted in the previous 24-hour period, the positivity rate remains around 1.1 per cent.
Ontario reported no additional COVID-19-related deaths on Friday, leaving the total number of fatalities at 2,825.
The number of lab-confirmed infections in the province now stands at 46,077, including 40,600 recoveries and deaths.
There are currently 58 people in the hospital being treated for the disease. Twenty of those patients are in the intensive care unit and 10 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.
Of the new patients on Friday, the majority are between the ages of 20 and 39, with 200 new cases reported.
There were 67 new cases in people under the age of 19. In the 40 to 59 age group, there are 99 new cases.
There are 38 new cases in people above the age of 60.
Where are Ontario's new COVID-19 cases?
The majority of Friday's cases are concentrated in Ontario's three COVID-19 hotspots.
The regions reporting the most new cases include:
- Toronto - 130
- Peel Region - 82
- Ottawa - 67
- York Region - 40
- Halton Region - 19
- Middlesex-London - 12
- Simcoe Muskoka - 10
- Durham Region - 8
Ontario rolled back social gathering limits in Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors as of Friday to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the province's hotspots.
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Thursday afternoon at Queen's Park, saying that the new rules apply to "unmonitored social gatherings and organized public events" held on private property or in parks.
