Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Wednesday.
Toronto, Peel Region in talks with province to possibly allow patios to open under COVID-19 lockdown
City of Toronto and Peel Region officials say they’re in talks with the Ontario government to explore possible amendments to the province’s grey-lockdown COVID-19 restrictions that could allow for more outdoor activities, including the opening of patios.
Dr. Eileen de Villa and Dr. Lawrence Loh, the medical officers of health for Toronto and Peel Region respectively, both said on Wednesday they do not believe their regions should open further by moving to a new level of the coronavirus response framework.
Instead, they said they are open to amendments for the grey-lockdown level as warmer weather approaches.
York Region expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to residents aged 75+
York Region says residents aged 75 and older will be able to book an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine beginning Thursday morning.
In a news release, officials said starting at 8:30 a.m., those born in 1946 and earlier can go to the municipality’s website to book their appointment.
COVID-19 hotspots should get larger allotment of vaccines, Mississauga mayor says
Mississauga’s mayor says COVID-19 hotspots like Peel Region and Toronto should get a larger allotment of vaccines.
Bonnie Crombie made the remarks during her weekly update Wednesday afternoon.
“I really, truly believe that you have to deal with it at the source, and if we have the highest density here and … the risk of transmission is so much greater in Peel Region and in Toronto, then it only makes sense that we get a greater allotment of the vaccine,” Crombie said.
70 COVID-19 cases reported at Toronto South jail
Toronto Public Health says that following site-wide testing, there are 70 cases of coronavirus between both staff and inmates that have been detected at a correctional facility in south Etobicoke.
Of the 70 cases at the Toronto South Detention Centre, 36 involve variants of concern, the local public health unit said.
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The exact variant of concern is not yet known, Toronto Public Health said, adding that Public Health Ontario is conducting genome sequencing to determine it.
3 mass COVID-19 immunization clinics open in Toronto
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the Scarborough Town Centre and the Toronto Congress Centre opened their doors Wednesday for mass COVID-19 vaccinations.
All three sites will operate from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
They are currently serving people over the age of 80 who have registered for appointments.
Mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics should visit Toronto buildings with higher senior populations: report
When it comes to Toronto’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts for seniors, a new report is suggesting officials dispatch mobile clinics to apartment buildings and condos primarily occupied by seniors.
The recommendation was contained in a document posted on Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table website on Wednesday. The report looks at how best to target seniors who live in Toronto’s 489 naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), which are buildings where at least 30 per cent of the residents are 65 and older and have at least 50 people in that demographic.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 1,508 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
Of those:
- 542 were in Toronto
- 253 were in Peel Region
- 107 were in York Region
- 42 were in Durham Region
- 32 were in Halton Region
Ontario reports 1,508 new coronavirus cases, 14 more deaths
Ontario is reporting 1,508 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the provincial total to 321,956.
The death toll in the province has risen to 7,187 as 14 more deaths were recorded.
Resolved cases increased by 1,488 from the previous day. The government said 49,128 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.
As of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, the provincial government reported administering 1,301,334 COVID-19 vaccine doses, representing an increase of 58,202 in the last day. There are 290,659 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 3,752 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario, which is unchanged.
There are 72 current outbreaks in homes, which is down by eight from the previous day.
The ministry also indicated there are currently 30 active cases among long-term care residents and 123 active cases among staff — down by 13 and down by 15, respectively, in the last day.
Cases among students and staff at Ontario schools, child care centres
Government figures show there have been a total of 10,586 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario to date. This is an increase of 179 more cases in the last day — 145 student cases, 33 staff cases and one individual was not identified.
The COVID-19 cases are currently from 909 out of 4,828 schools in the province. Thirty-one schools in Ontario are currently closed as a result of positive cases, the government indicated.
There have been a total of 3,100 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 52 (35 new child cases and 17 staff cases). Out of 5,275 child care centres in Ontario, 208 currently have cases and 49 centres are closed.
— With files from The Canadian Press