Ontario reports more than 250 new COVID-19 cases, 6 additional deaths
Ontario is reporting more than 250 new COVID-19 cases for the first time since Canada Day.
On Saturday, health officials logged an additional 258 infections, marking the third day in which the daily COVID-19 case count has been above 200.
The number of infections has been climbing daily over the last week. Officials reported 226 cases on Friday, 218 on Thursday, 158 on Wednesday and 127 on Tuesday.
The seven-day rolling average of daily COVID-19 cases now stands at about 183. One week ago that number was 159.
The last time more than 250 COVID-19 cases were reported in Ontario was on July 1, when 284 infections were logged.
With just over 19,100 tests processed in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health says the positivity rate now stands at about 1.2 per cent.
Six more deaths related to the disease were also reported on Saturday, bringing the death toll to 9,345.
The number of patients in Ontario intensive care units as a result of COVID-19 continues to decline. As of Saturday, the province says there are 112 people being treated for COVID-19 in the ICU.
In total, Ontario officials have identified 550,436 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province, including deaths and recoveries.
WHERE ARE THE COVID-19 CASES?
The majority of the new infections can be found in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.
According to the province’s epidemiology report, there are 53 cases in Toronto, 33 in York Region, 28 in Waterloo, 27 in Hamilton, 26 in Peel Region, 22 in Durham, 12 in Halton Region, and 11 in Middlesex-London.
Seven public health units are reporting no new cases of COVID-19. The remaining municipalities logged fewer than 10 new infections.
Ontario has been in Step 3 of its economic reopening plan for two weeks, which allows for indoor dining to resume and facilities such as gyms and movie theatres to open their doors. Gathering limits have also increased, with 25 people allowed indoors and 100 people allowed outdoors.
On Friday, the province revealed that while most restrictions will lift when Ontario moves past Step 3, masks will remain mandatory indoors.
ANOTHER SURGE IN DELTA VARIANT CASES
Ontario has identified an additional 176 cases of the Delta B.1.617.2 variant in lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 4,741.
In the last 24 hour period, officials also identified two cases of the Alpha B.1.1.7. variant.
On Friday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said that Canada was “at the start of the Delta-driven fourth wave.”
“The updated longer-range forecast shows how the epidemic trajectory may evolve through early September,” she said. “It suggests that we are at the start of the Delta-driven fourth wave, but that the trajectory will depend on ongoing increases in fully vaccinated coverage, and the timing, pace and extent of reopening.” said.
In the last 24-hour period, officials administered 81,590 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
More than 8.9 million people in Ontario are considered fully vaccinated with both their shots.
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
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.