Here are the latest developments on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Monday.
GTHA mayors, chairs call for more vaccines for hotspots
Mayors and regional chairs in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area called for more COVID-19 vaccines for their municipalities Monday, saying that hotspots should be prioritized in the rollout.
In a statement issued after their weekly meeting, the officials from 11 municipalities said hotspot zones, like the GTHA, are facing greater impacts from the virus and, as a result, should get a greater supply of vaccines.
The statement said the same should happen for areas throughout the country that are facing high COVID-19 infection rates.
The Ontario Ministry of Health said hotspots — including the GTHA — will get additional doses as part of Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout, which is set to begin sometime in April.
York Region temporarily closing 3 vaccination clinics due to limited supply
York Region will be temporarily closing three vaccination clinics due to supply issues, officials said Monday.
Among the locations set to close is the drive-thru clinic at Canada’s Wonderland, which only opened Monday, said Patrick Casey, director of corporate communications for York Region.
The other two are the Georgina Ice Palace and the Aaninn Community Centre.
The clinics are set to close from April 2 to 5, inclusive.
Casey said the move comes as a result of delays in anticipated shipments of the Moderna vaccine. With more deliveries expected next week, the clinics will reopen, he said.
All other clinics in the region are expected to operate at capacity each day.
2 Toronto schools closed due to COVID-19
Toronto Public Health said in a tweet Monday evening that they have recommended that all cohorts at St. Eugene Catholic School and St. Roch Catholic School be dismissed.
Officials said the move was taken “as a result of ongoing COVID-19 investigations.”
The TCDSB said the school community has been informed of the dismissal.
‘Every indication’ schools will remain open: Ontario education minister
More than 47 schools in Ontario are closed as a result of positive COVID-19 cases, not including the very latest to shut down this week, but Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the Ford government’s mission is to “keep schools open.”
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With the April break just around the corner, Global News asked Minister Lecce if there are plans to close schools following that week off.
“Every indication we have from the chief medical officer of health is that students will continue to go to school. I believe very strongly that kids need to be in school,” he said.
Ontario health minister gets AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Christine Elliott, Ontario’s health minister, received the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on camera Monday morning.
She got her first dose at a Toronto pharmacy shortly after 9:15 a.m.
“Please go and get a vaccine,” Elliott urged after getting her shot. “I certainly want everyone who can receive any one of the vaccines at the appropriate time to do so.”
Last week, Elliott said she was going to take the AstraZeneca shot on camera to encourage others to get the vaccine due to hesitancy and negative reports of blood clots surrounding it.
Ontario lowers minimum age for COVID-19 vaccines in 10 more regions
As of Monday morning, people born in 1951 and earlier can use the provincial system to book their shots in the regions, which include Hamilton, Grey Bruce, Peel and Ottawa.
Previously, the minimum age in most regions was 75.
The province said people aged 70 and older will also be able to use the provincial system to make a vaccination appointment in York Region.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 2,094 new coronavirus cases on Monday.
Of those:
- 618 were in Toronto
- 368 were in Peel Region
- 277 were in York Region
- 104 were in Durham Region
- 74 were in Halton Region
Ontario reports nearly 2,100 new COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths
Ontario is reporting 2,094 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the fifth straight day cases are above 2,000, bringing the provincial total to 345,234.
The death toll in the province has risen to 7,337 as 10 more deaths were recorded.
The government said 39,470 tests were processed in the last 24 hours. Resolved cases increased by 1,524 from the previous day.
As of 8 p.m. on Sunday, the provincial government reported administering 2,031,735 total COVID-19 vaccine doses, representing an increase of 50,453 in the last day. There are 311,248 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 3,753 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which has remained unchanged since March 19.
There are 54 current outbreaks in homes, which is an increase of four from the previous day.
The ministry also indicated there are currently nine active cases among long-term care residents and 119 active cases among staff — unchanged and up by four, 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 12,237 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario to date. This is an increase of 215 more cases within a 24-hour period — 170 student cases and 45 staff cases.
The COVID-19 cases are currently from 1,116 out of 4,828 schools in the province which is 23 per cent of schools. Forty-seven schools in Ontario are currently closed as a result of positive cases, the government indicated.
There have been a total of 3,493 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 36 (24 new child cases and 12 staff cases). Out of 5,279 child care centres in Ontario, 282 currently have cases and 62 centres are closed.
— With files from Caryn Lieberman and The Canadian Press
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