Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Wednesday.
Toronto officials recommend city move into grey-lockdown level next week
Toronto officials are recommending that the city enter the grey-lockdown level of the province’s coronavirus response framework next week, which would see the loosening of some restrictions.
“Overall, case counts at present call for a cautious approach that will allow us to reopen and to do so as safely as possible,” Toronto medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa said.
“Based on the data in front of us, it is clear that reopening widely, such as under the red category of the provincial framework, is not advisable at this time given our current case counts.”
Peel Region’s top doctor recommending moving to grey-lockdown in Ontario’s COVID-19 framework
Peel Region’s medical officer of health says he is recommending the area move into the grey-lockdown zone of Ontario’s colour-coded COVID-19 response framework as the date approaches for reassessment.
“As we exit the province’s stay-at-home order, I am recommending that we enter the province’s framework under grey for a two-week period,” Dr. Lawrence Loh said at a weekly briefing for Brampton Wednesday morning.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing a reversal of the favourable trends that we’ve observed in the last five weeks,” Loh said. “This is driven by the growth of variants of concern and the loosening of measures in other jurisdictions.”
Halton Region opens up COVID-19 vaccination bookings for those 80+
Halton Region says starting Wednesday, those 80 years of age and older can book an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine at select vaccination clinics.
All clinics are by appointment only and must be booked online through the Halton Region vaccination clinic website or through 311.
The region also said it is offering transportation to and from appointments for those who require support, and it’s free.
Ontario to extend COVID-19 vaccine intervals
Ontario will extend the interval between doses of COVID-19 vaccines to up to four months after a national panel recommended doing so, paving the way for an acceleration of the province’s immunization effort.
A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province welcomed the updated guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization released late Wednesday afternoon.
Ontario residents aged 60 to 64 to receive Oxford-AstraZeneca shot
Ontario will give the newly approved Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to residents aged 60 to 64.
Solicitor General Sylvia Jones says the province feels the targeted use of that shot will help cut illness and death across Ontario.
Jones says the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot will not be administered through mass immunization clinics but through a “different pathway,” although she did not elaborate what that would be.
Ontario said yesterday it plans to follow the advice of a national panel that’s recommended against using the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot on people aged 65 and older.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 958 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
Of those:
- 249 were in Toronto
- 164 were in Peel Region
- 92 were in York Region
- 41 were in Durham Region
- 20 were in Halton Region
Ontario reports 17 more COVID-19 deaths as total surpasses 7,000 since start of pandemic
Ontario is reporting 17 more COVID-19-related deaths, pushing the provincial total past the 7,000 milestone to 7,014.
The province also reported 958 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative total to 303,763.
Resolved cases increased by 1,090 from the previous day. The government said 52,613 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.
As of 8 p.m. yesterday, the province has administered 754,419 COVID-19 vaccine doses, representing an increase of 27,398 in the last day. There are 266,710 people fully vaccinated with two doses.
Cases, deaths and outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 3,745 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is an decrease of one death from yesterday. A decrease in deaths can be the result of new information that can remove previously recorded deaths.
Eleven virus-related deaths in total have been reported among staff.
There are 98 current outbreaks in homes, which is an increase of one from the previous day.
The ministry also indicated there are currently 65 active cases among long-term care residents and 163 active cases among staff — down by six and up by one, respectively, in the last 24 hours.
Cases among students and staff at Ontario schools, child care centres
Government figures show there have been a total of 8,952 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario to date. This is an increase of 160 more cases in the last day — 138 student cases, 21 staff cases and one was not identified.
The COVID-19 cases are currently from 672 out of 4,828 schools in the province. Twenty-four schools in Ontario are currently closed as a result of positive cases, the government indicated.
There have been a total of 2,741 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 25 (16 new child cases and nine staff cases). Out of 5,268 child care centres in Ontario, 153 currently have cases and 34 centres are closed.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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