Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Sunday.
Brazilian COVID-19 variant found in Toronto: officials
Toronto Public Health officials say a case of the Brazilian COVID-19 variant has been found in the city.
In a news release Sunday, officials said the case involves a Toronto resident who is hospitalized and recently travelled from Brazil.
It marks the first known case of the strain in Ontario.
Expanded eligibility for emergency child care for essential workers in Toronto, Peel and York regions
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Sunday that more essential workers in Toronto, Peel and York regions will be eligible for emergency child care for much of this upcoming work week.
Lecce said beginning Tuesday, more workers, including those in construction working on essential projects and transit workers who are unable to work remotely, will be eligible for child care at no cost.
“While students in many parts of the province are returning or have returned to in-person learning, students in Toronto, York Region and Peel will be returning to class one week later, on Feb. 16,” Lecce said in a statement.
Get weekly health news
“During this period of remote learning, our government is supporting these key workers by ensuring their children are well cared for.”
Access to the emergency child care will end on Friday ahead of the return to class.
New Vaughan hospital accepts first patient
Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital has accepted its first patient.
The hospital will initially be dedicated to alleviating the pressures other hospitals are facing in the Greater Toronto Area due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the first newly built hospital in 30 years to add net new capacity, this is an exciting milestone for the community and the province,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said.
https://twitter.com/celliottability/status/1358423877609783302
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 1,489 new cases on Sunday.
Of those:
- 517 were in Toronto
- 261 were in Peel Region
- 121 were in York Region
- 50 were in Durham Region
- 61 were in Halton Region
Ontario reports 1,489 new cases, 22 more deaths
Ontario reported 1,489 cases of the novel coronavirus Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 278,207.
Twenty-two additional deaths were also reported on Sunday, bringing the provincial death toll to 6,505.
The province indicated that the positivity rate for the last day was 2.8 per cent, which is up from Saturday’s report, when it was 2.6 per cent, and is down from last Sunday’s report when it was 3.7 per cent.
Provincial figures showed there are 926 people hospitalized with the virus (down by 95), with 335 in intensive care (up by 10), 233 of whom are on a ventilator (up by five).
Just over 6,500 more COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario
As of 8 p.m. Saturday, 379,184 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Ontario, which is up by 6,518.
So far, 101,744 people have received both required doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Comments