Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Thursday:
Status of cases in Toronto
Toronto Public Health says there were 280 new coronavirus cases reported in the city, bringing the total number of cases to 19,837.
The city has recorded 1,182 virus-related deaths, marking an increase of one.
Seventy-five people with COVID-19 are hospitalized in the city.
Meanwhile, 16,509 cases are considered resolved.
The figures are as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Scotiabank Arena won’t host U.S. voter registration due to COVID-19
Scotiabank Arena won’t be used for voter registration for the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election due to concerns around COVID-19.
The Toronto Raptors had planned to open their home arena so Americans living in Toronto could register to vote, but announced Thursday that due to the global pandemic, rising case numbers in Toronto and Ontario and restrictions on indoor gatherings, voting registration won’t be held in person.
Team officials urged voters to request their ballots online.
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Ontario revises school screening guidelines
The Ontario government has revised its screening guidelines for students and those in child care.
Officials said the changes were made “based on a review of the current evidence and consulting with pediatric infectious diseases experts.”
If a child develops symptoms including fever or cough, they should still stay home until they receive a different diagnosis from a doctor or a negative coronavirus test result.
If they develop other symptoms commonly associated with different illnesses, like a runny nose or headache, they should stay home for 24 hours and can return to school or a child-care centre if symptoms improve. Those with two or more symptoms are still advised to remain home until they get a different diagnosis or a negative coronavirus test.
Ontario announces pay boost for PSWs
Ontario says it will give pay raises to personal support workers throughout the health-care system in a bid to recruit and retain them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Doug Ford says about 147,000 workers in long-term care, hospitals, and community care are eligible for the increase.
Ontario reports 538 cases, 3 deaths
Ontario reported 538 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 52,248.
It marks a drop compared to Wednesday, which saw 625 cases reported.
“Sixty per cent of today’s cases are in people under the age of 40. There are 515 more resolved cases today,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said on Twitter.
Elliott said the province completed more than 39,600 additional tests. Ontario has now completed a total of 3,963,111 tests. However, the backlog now stands at 82,473.
Three more deaths were also reported on Thursday, bringing the provincial death toll to 2,851.
COVID-19 in Ontario schools and child-care centres
Government figures show there have been a total of 448 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario — 233 among students and 83 among staff (132 individuals were not identified). This is an increase of 65 more cases from the previous day.
The COVID-19 cases are currently from 307 out of 4,828 schools in the province.
There have been a total of 144 confirmed cases within child-care centres and homes — an increase of 8 since the previous day.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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