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COVID-19: Latest developments in the Greater Toronto Area on March 23

Restaurant workers have been told they’re among those to be vaccinated in phase two of the Ontario inoculation plan. But other essential workers who can’t work from home are asking why they’ve been left off. Matthew Bingley reports. – Mar 23, 2021

Here are the latest developments on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Tuesday.

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Toronto Catholic school closes due to COVID-19 cases

Toronto Public Health staff have recommended that St. Charles Garnier Catholic School, near Jane Street and Finch Avenue West, temporarily close as a result on an ongoing COVID-19 investigation.

According to the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s website, there were three student cases and six staff cases recorded between March 13 and Monday.

“We will keep the school community informed as soon as the reopening date is confirmed,” a Toronto Public Health statement said.

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TCDSB staff said the Humber River Hospital assessment centre has organized testing for the school community. Staff and students will move to online learning as the school is closed, the board added.

Traveller charged after allegedly presenting fake negative COVID-19 test at Pearson Airport

Peel Regional Police say a man has been charged after allegedly presenting a fake negative COVID-19 test at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

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Police said that on Sunday at 4 p.m., officers went to assist the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

A CBSA officer was looking at entry documents, police said, including a negative COVID-19 test which “appeared to be fraudulent.”

Ontario school boards struggle to find supply teachers amid rise in absences due to COVID-19

As several Ontario school boards grapple with a rise in teacher absences due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at least one Toronto-area board said it has had to ask administrators, specialty teachers and lunch supervisors to step in.

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The Toronto Catholic District school board said those measures have been taken on some occasions to “ensure the safety of students and staff” as it strives to broaden its pool of occasional, or supply, teachers.

Group representing Ontario family doctors calls for more involvement in COVID-19 vaccinations

Ontario family doctors called Tuesday be more involved in the COVID-19 vaccination effort, saying they could boost uptake, but the government said their participation would be limited to a supply-dependent pilot project for now.

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The Ontario College of Family Physicians said primary-care doctors could push overall participation in the province’s immunization program to nearly 90 per cent.

Status of cases in the GTA

Ontario reported a total of 1,546 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.

Of those:

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  • 465 were in Toronto
  • 329 were in Peel Region
  • 161 were in York Region
  • 99 were in Durham Region
  • 64 were in Halton Region

Ontario reports more than 1,500 new COVID-19 cases, 9 deaths

Ontario is reporting 1,546 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 332,119.

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The death toll in the province has risen to 7,253 as nine more deaths were recorded.

Resolved cases increased by 1,271 from the previous day. The government said 32,556 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.

As of 8 p.m. on Monday, the provincial government reported administering 1,603,699 COVID-19 vaccine doses, representing an increase of 50,659 in the last day. There are 301,043 people fully vaccinated with two doses.

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Variants of concern in Ontario

Officials have listed breakdown data for the new VOCs (variants of concern) which consist of the B.1.1.7 (first detected in the United Kingdom), B.1.351 (first detected in South Africa), and P.1 (first detected in Brazil) mutations.

Of the variant cases found so far in the province, the B.1.1.7 VOC is currently the dominating strain at 1,359 cases, which is up by 19 since Monday’s report. Forty-seven B.1.351 cases have been found, making a decrease of one, and 37 P.1 cases have been detected, which is up by one.

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The overall number of cases in which a mutation was detected but the lineage was not yet determined was 13,894, marking an increase of 666.

Cases, deaths and outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes

According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 3,753 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is unchanged.

There are 52 current outbreaks in homes, which is down by four from the previous day.

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The ministry also indicated there are currently 10 active cases among long-term care residents and 99 active cases among staff — down by two and down by 11, 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 11,443 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario to date. This is an increase of 409 more cases in the last three days — 333 student cases, 75 staff cases and one individual was not identified.

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The COVID-19 cases are currently from 997 out of 4,828 schools in the province. Forty-eight schools in Ontario are currently closed as a result of positive cases, the government indicated.

There have been a total of 3,288 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 93 (59 new child cases and 34 staff cases). Out of 5,279 child care centres in Ontario, 239 currently have cases and 53 centres are closed.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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