Ontario reports fewer than 300 new COVID-19 cases, spike in deaths while citing data cleanup
COVID-19 case numbers in Ontario remained below the 300 mark for the second consecutive day Tuesday as the province reported a spike in deaths related to the disease while citing a data cleanup.
The 296 new infections mark a slight increase over Monday’s total when the province logged 270 cases. At least 80 of the cases reported today are from 2020, the Ministry of Health said in an email.
Sixty COVID-19-related deaths were reported in the last 24-hour period, which would mark the highest single-day death toll since Feb. 4.
However, the Ministry of Health also said that 54 of the fatalities being reported today are from previous months.
Tuesday’s report brings Ontario’s COVID-19 case total to 542,764. Including 9,082 deaths and 530,434 recoveries.
Labs across Ontario processed 16,784 tests for COVID-19 since yesterday, which the province says yielded a positivity rate of 1.6 per cent.
The seven-day rolling average for the number of cases reported in Ontario sits at 334. Last week, that number was 478.
There are currently 334 people in hospital with COVID-19. Of those hospitalized, 314 are being treated in intensive care and 202 are on a ventilator.
Where are the new COVID-19 cases?
Most of the cases reported by the province on Tuesday were found in Toronto (123), including 80 previously unreported cases from 2020, Waterloo (61), and York Region (37).
There were 20 cases reported in Peel Region and 11 cases in both Hamilton and Ottawa.
Ontario is currently in Step 1 of its reopening plan, which allows for patio dining, outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, and limited non-essential retail shopping.
The province will enter Step 2 of the plan on July 2 at the earliest, which further relaxes public health restrictions and allows for personal care services and indoor gatherings of up to five people.
Another 209 cases of variants of concern recorded
In the last 24 hours, labs confirmed 209 additional cases of COVID-19 variants of concern.
Health officials found 178 more cases of the Alpha variant known as B.1.1.7, pushing the case total to 142,393.
Twenty-nine instances of the Delta variant B.1.617.2 were found. There are 916 confirmed cases of that strain of novel coronavirus in Ontario.
Two other cases of the Gamma variant P.1 were found, which brings the case total to 4,256.
No additional cases of the Beta variant B.1.351 were logged over night. The case total remains at 1,154.
More than 3.1 million fully vaccinated
Since the start of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign, more than 3.1 million people have received both a first and second shot and are considered to be fully vaccinated.
In total, 12,869,310 needles have gone into arms over the last seven months, with nearly 200,000 doses administered on Monday alone.
Background
The numbers used in this story are found in the Ontario Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Daily Epidemiologic Summary. The number of cases for any city or region may differ slightly from what is reported by the province, because local units report figures at different times.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.