Here is a roundup of the latest developments on the novel coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Monday:
421 new coronavirus cases in Ontario, total reaches 7,470 and 291 deaths
Ontario reported 421 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday and 17 additional deaths, bringing the provincial total to 7,470 cases.
The death toll has risen to 291.
However, 3,357 people have recovered from the virus, which is 44.9 per cent of cases.
Greater Toronto Area public health units account for 53.9 per cent of all cases in the province.
Status of COVID-19 cases in Toronto
Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, said as of Monday afternoon, there were 2,088 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 210 probable cases.
Of the confirmed and probable cases, she said 80 of the 210 hospitalized Toronto residents were in ICU beds.
To date, 92 Toronto residents have died from COVID-19. She said 50 of those deaths occurred in long-term care homes.
De Villa also said 39 long-term care homes in Toronto have at least one or more COVID-19 cases.
Ontario government seeks to extend emergency act by 28 days
Premier Doug Ford said his government will be seeking to extend Ontario’s state of emergency by 28 days on Tuesday.
Ford wouldn’t say what that means for public schools, which have been ordered closed until at least early May.
City of Toronto opens 2 more emergency child-care centres for children of essential workers
Mayor John Tory said, with the approval of the Ontario government, the city has been able to open two additional licensed child care centres to provide care for the children of essential workers. These two centres are in addition to four centres that opened on March 31.
One centre will open at 34 Bathurst St. on Monday (April 13), the second on 1125 Danforth Ave. will open later this week.
“Emergency child care services are reserved exclusively for children of essential and critical service workers identified in the province of Ontario’s ‘List of Workers Eligible for Emergency Child Care,’ who have no other alternatives,” the City said in a statement.
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“To date, Toronto is the only municipality in Ontario to offer this service since provincial approval was granted. Funded by the province of Ontario, this licensed child care service is available at no cost to qualifying families, for children under age 12. Services operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week — a first for the City.”
Death toll reaches 22 at Scarborough long-term care home
Twenty-two residents of the Seven Oaks long-term care facility in Scarborough have died after contracting coronavirus, Toronto Public Health confirms to Global News.
“Unfortunately, as of April 12, 2020, we are aware of 22 deaths from COVID-19 among residents at Seven Oaks. There are 82 confirmed cases among 249 residents and 14 confirmed cases among 200 staff,” a Toronto Public Health spokesperson said.
Mon Sheong Home for the Aged reports 4 more deaths, increase in cases
Officials with Mon Sheong Home for the Aged (D’Arcy Home) said as of Monday, 32 residents tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released by the facility Monday evening.
Staff said eight of those residents have since died. Also, 11 staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
“Mon Sheong Foundation is grateful to all of the frontline workers taking care of our residents. Since staff members that have been confirmed positive or are unwell are required to isolate, staffing has become quite a challenge,” Stella Leung, a senior administrator, said in the statement.
“We are arranging for additional nursing staff to join us. As well, some retired nursing staff members have returned to help out. Mon Sheong Foundation is working hard to ensure a sufficient amount of staff to care for our residents.
Leung said the facility is looking to secure additional N-95 masks and protective gowns for staff, appealing for donations.
On Thursday, staff said 16 residents and two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 at that point. There were four deaths related to the virus.
Resident at Markham nursing home dies: mayor
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said a 79-year-old man has died at Markhaven Home for Seniors.
He said the man’s death marks the 10th person at the facility to die from COVID-19.
Outbreak reported at Toronto’s St. Joseph’s Hospital ICU
St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto reported on Monday that a patient tested positive for COVID-19.
The hospital said two staff members who came into contact with the patients later tested positive for COVID-19, noting both are doing well and are at home. No other patients in the unit have tested positive, officials noted.
“As a precautionary measure, all ICU patients are on droplet precautions and will remain so for 14 days,” the statement said.
“Admissions to the ICU will continue from inpatient areas. At present, any patients coming to the emergency department requiring an ICU level of care will be transferred to another facility which will be reassessed daily as we monitor the situation.”
2 Canada Post employees in Mississauga test positive
Two employees at a Canada Post facility in Mississauga have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Crown corporation said the employees work at their Dixie Road facility, each in different roles. One of the employees is a driver, while the other works in processing in the east side of the facility.
“The two employees were non-symptomatic and both had been away from the facility in the last week,” a statement from Canada Post read.
“Following the guidance of public health officials, a comprehensive cleaning and sanitation of the workplaces was conducted on Sunday as a precautionary measure. We have reviewed our approach and cleaning measures with public health and, combined with our physical distancing measures throughout our operations, they deem the situation to be low-risk.”
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Meal supports for Toronto seniors, food banks opening
Toronto Mayor John Tory said the City is working with the Red Cross and other partners to deliver food to seniors who are 70 and older.
The program is for seniors who do not have access to alternative food services and do not receive food from other community programs.
To apply, residents can call 1-833-204-9952.
Tory also said nine food banks are now open at different Toronto library locations. Click here to see 211 Toronto‘s directory of food bank locations.
Free tax prep for Ontario health-care workers
Accountants in Ontario are offering free tax preparation for front-line health-care workers.
“I don’t think it’s something most people look forward to at the best of times, and when you see the front-line workers and their absolute exhaustion, we hope that this initiative would just give those frontline workers a little bit of relief,” Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario CEO Carol Wilding said.
Several major accounting firms have offered to support the program, including KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst and Young, BDO, PwC Grant Thornton, MNP and others.
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