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
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.