Here is a roundup of the latest developments on the novel coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Saturday:
Ontario reports lowest case increase in over a month
Ontario reported 346 new cases of the novel coronavirus Saturday morning, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 19,944.
It’s the lowest reported increase in cases since April 6, when 306 cases were announced. On April 29, 347 cases were reported.
Fifty-nine new deaths were also announced on Saturday, bringing the total fatalities attributed to the virus in the province to 1,599.
Nearly 14,400 cases are considered resolved, which makes up 72.1 per cent of all confirmed cases.
Status of cases in Toronto
The City of Toronto says there were 7,251 cases of COVID-19 in the city as of Friday afternoon, with 6,557 confirmed cases and 694 probable.
Over 5,000 of the cases are considered resolved.
Meanwhile, 424 cases were in hospital, with 104 in intensive care.
A total of 567 people have died from COVID-19 in the city.
50 dead at Mississauga long-term care home
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A total of 50 residents who tested positive for COVID-19 at a Mississauga long-term care facility have died.
That’s an increase of two deaths since Thursday.
Camilla Care Community said there are 62 active cases of the virus among residents, as well as 35 staff members who are isolating.
“We continue to actively retest residents — which is essential in quickly identifying anyone who becomes COVID-19 positive, despite the fact these residents may have tested with negative results previously,” a statement from the facility read.
Forty-nine residents and 12 staff members have recovered from the virus.
Hardware stores reopen
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Hardware stories were allowed to reopen in Ontario as of early Saturday as long as physical distancing measures are in place.
Their reopening comes one day after garden centres were also allowed to fully reopen.
On Monday, storefront retail stores will be allowed to open for curbside pickup.
Snowbirds postpone flyover due to snow
The Snowbirds aerobatics team postponed their southern Ontario flyover on Saturday due to winter-like weather conditions.
The Snowbirds are doing a cross-country tour, saluting Canadians amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The team was scheduled to fly over parts of the GTA, but announced they would stay grounded for the day due to the weather.
Ontario opening provincial parks early
The Ontario government will begin to allow access to its provincial parks for day-use activities on Monday, almost three weeks earlier than previously announced.
Access will be limited to walking, hiking, biking and bird watching, the government said. Camping and access to beaches will remain closed.
“As we continue to make progress in our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19, we are carefully and cautiously reopening the province, starting with certain businesses and retailers, and now our provincial parks and conservation reserves,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement Saturday.
School employees allowed to redeploy to congregate care
Ontario has implemented an emergency order allowing school employees to be voluntarily redeployed to congregate care settings amid the coronavirus pandemic in a bid to alleviate staffing shortages.
The government said settings like hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and women’s shelters are in need of staff including custodial and maintenance workers.
Provincial government announces support for child-care centres
The provincial government said it will help cover operating costs for child-care providers and waive their licensing fees in an effort to keep them from permanently shutting during the COVID-19 crisis.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Saturday that the government will give out funding on a case-by-case basis and has not earmarked a set amount of money for the initiative.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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