Ontario Public Health has reported 564 more lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, which is the highest number of cases confirmed in a single day so far.
Today also marks the highest increase in deaths with 55 more reported today by the province, bringing the Ontario death toll attributed to COVID-19 to 478.
Testing has also increased, with the province reporting 8,899 tests completed yesterday.
The new cases announced today represent a 6.3 per cent increase in new cases, which is essentially consistent with the percentage increase each day this week. The daily case numbers have been increasing since Sunday, when the province reported 401 new cases. Yesterday, the province reported 494 new cases and 9,000 tests processed.
There are currently 5,993 tests awaiting results.
The last highest daily total report was March 8, when Ontario Public Health announced 552 new cases.
The total number of cases confirmed in the province is 9,525, which includes today’s cases, 4,556 recoveries, and 478 deaths. The province’s average infection rate is now 64.1 per 100,000 people, which is increased from 60 per 100,000 yesterday.
There are now 829 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and 245 of those are in intensive care units. In Ontario, 200 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators.
Ontario Public Health has now confirmed 106 outbreaks at long-term care homes and 30 outbreaks at hospitals. There have been 1,229 residents and patients at long-term care facilities test positive for the virus, and 216 have died.
According to today's report, which includes data from Jan. 15 to April 16, the number of cases at other Northern Ontario health units, as well as the rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population are:
• Algoma Public Health - 12 cases, rate of 9.6 per 100,000 population
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit - 12 cases, rate of 9.2 per 100,000 population
• Porcupine Health Unit - 46, rate of 55.1 per 100,000 population (new cases were reported this morning and there are now 49 cases)
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts - 41 cases, rate of 20.6 per 100,000 population
• Timiskaming Health Unit - 10 cases, rate of 30.6 per 100,000
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit - 36 cases, rate of 24 per 100,000 population
• Northwestern Health Unit - 10 cases, rate of 11.4 per 100,000 population
In Northeastern Ontario, there are currently 120 confirmed cases, and the rate is 21.5 per 100,000 population. In Northwestern Ontario, there are 46 cases and a rate of 19.4. The provincial rate per 100,000 population is 64.1
SooToday received the following statement from Mayor Christian Provenzano on the confirmation of the community spread of COVID-19 in the Algoma District:
I have been asked over the past week whether it is time to lift some of the COVID-19 restrictions. The people who have asked point to the low number of positive COVID-19 test results in the Algoma District relative to the region, province and country. To be clear, the test results are not, in any way, an indication that we can let up on our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. The test results are an indication that we need to stay committed to and follow the advice of our public health professionals. That advice, put simply, is this:
• Wash your hands and avoid touching your face;
• If you have COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate;
• If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms, stay home;
• If you have to go out, practice physical distancing.
Yesterday, Algoma Public Health confirmed evidence of community spread. While we knew the virus was in our community, we now know that it is travelling through our community. It is more critical than ever that we follow the advice of our public health professionals. If we follow their advice, we slow the spread of the virus and keep ourselves, our loved ones and each other safer.
I have been impressed by the effort, care and kindness shown across our community and I am confident in our collective ability to keep focused on our immediate goal. Let’s stay committed and continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 together. Follow our public health professionals’ advice: wash your hands, avoid touching your face and #StayHomeSSM.
