Here is a roundup of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Friday:
Ontario reports 478 new cases, 22 deaths
Ontario reported 478 new cases of coronavirus Friday morning and 22 deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 6,237.
The death toll rose to 222.
Of the confirmed cases, 673 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, with 260 in intensive care and 217 on a ventilator. Around 12.6 per cent of all cases in Ontario have resulted in hospitalization.
Just under 2,600 cases are considered recovered — that makes up about 41 per cent of confirmed cases.
Status of COVID-19 cases in Toronto
Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, said as of Friday afternoon, there were 1,637 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 254 probable cases.
Of the confirmed and probable cases, she said 79 of the 177 hospitalized Toronto residents were in ICU beds.
To date, 77 Toronto residents have died from COVID-19.
Markham home for adults with disabilities has staff walk off after COVID-19 outbreak
A Markham home for adults with disabilities is in dire need of help after an outbreak of the novel coronavirus caused staff to walk off the job, leaving residents unattended.
Participation House is home to 42 adults with disabilities and as of Friday, had a confirmed 10 residents and two staff members test positive for COVID-19, Debra McLaughlin, a member of the board of directors, told Global News.
Toronto to hold another enforcement blitz
Toronto police and city officials will be conducting another physical distancing enforcement blitz over the holiday weekend.
Two-hundred bylaw officers and 160 Toronto police officers will be participating in the blitz.
Parking enforcement officers will also be patrolling to see if vehicles are parked in closed-off areas.
Ontario plans to reach 16K tests per day by May 6
Ontario health officials said they are planning to conduct 16,000 tests per day by May 6.
The announcement came amid widespread criticism of Ontario’s testing practices.
That projection is about 3,000 tests short of Ontario’s previous pledge to have 19,000 tests per day being conducted across the province by mid-April.
An estimated 8,000 total tests per day are expected by April 15, and 14,000 by April 29.
Closed Ontario child care centres ordered to stop collecting payments
The Ontario government has ordered child care centres to stop collection payments from parents while the facilities are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The emergency order, which also temporarily protects the spaces of children, was announced Friday afternoon.
READ MORE: Ontario orders closed child care centres to stop collecting payments, protects spaces
GO Transit introduces new safety measures for drivers, workers
Metrolinx has introduced a new protective shield that will be set up around GO bus driver’s to increase separation throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Thought the implementation would usually take upwards of 18 months, Metrolinx said the shields will be put into buses in less than six weeks.
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