Here are the latest developments on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Tuesday.
Toronto schools ordered to close temporarily due to rising cases
Toronto’s medical officer of health is invoking powers under Ontario law to order all local schools closed for in-person instruction due to rising COVID-19 cases.
Dr. Eileen de Villa, who oversees the public health department in Toronto, issued a Section 22 order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to order schools closed as of Wednesday.
“Given the evidence, Toronto Public Health appreciates the value of in-person learning and firmly believes that schools should be the first places in our community to open, and the last to close,” a news release issued by the department Tuesday afternoon said.
“Unfortunately, current circumstances require that difficult decisions must be taken locally to protect all those in our school communities, including students, teachers and staff.”
‘We have failed our children,’ health group says as more school closures announced
A group of children’s health organizations says more needs to be done to protect in-person learning in Ontario as additional school closures were announced in the province Tuesday due to COVID-19.
“Schools are closing and more may shut down in-person learning because we haven’t been able to contain community transmission of coronavirus in Ontario,” a statement from the Children’s Health Coalition said.
“Collectively, we have failed our children.”
York Region opens vaccine appointments for residents aged 45-59 in 5 communities
York Region is opening up COVID-19 vaccine appointments for residents aged 45 to 59 in five “high-priority communities.”
In a news release issued Tuesday, officials said eligible residents will be able to book appointments beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“These high priority communities are geographical locations with high historic and ongoing rates of transmission, hospitalization and death,” the news release said.
COVID-19 vaccines to come to Ontario’s hot spots for those 50+
The second phase of Ontario’s vaccine rollout will target people in COVID-19 hot spots aged 50 and older, the province announced Tuesday.
Government officials said people living in hot spot neighbourhoods in 13 public health units – many of them essential workers – will be able to book their vaccine appointments over the next few weeks.
Ontario government suggests more restrictions coming, but details not revealed
The Ontario government is poised to impose additional COVID-19 restrictions as the province grapples with rising COVID-19 cases and increased admissions to intensive care units.
During separate news conferences on Tuesday, both Premier Doug Ford and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams indicated all options are “on the table.”
However, they didn’t provide details on specific measures being considered or when those measures might be put into place.
Ontario reports more than 3,000 cases, 8 deaths
Ontario is reporting 3,065 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 367,602.
The death toll in the province has risen to 7,458 as eight more deaths were recorded.
Resolved cases increased by 1,976 from the previous day. The government said 37,541 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.
As of 8 p.m. on Monday, the provincial government reported administering 2,621,839 total COVID-19 vaccine doses, representing an increase of 76,199 in the last day. There are 323,148 people fully vaccinated.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported 3,065 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
Of those:
- 955 were in Toronto
- 561 were in Peel Region
- 320 were in York Region
- 101 were in Durham Region
- 119 were in Halton Region
Cases, deaths and outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 3,755 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which remained unchanged.
There are 52 current outbreaks in homes, which is an increase of two from the previous day.
The ministry also indicated there are currently 8 active cases among long-term care residents and 121 active cases among staff — up by two and up by five, 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 13,498 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario to date. This is an increase of 236 more cases in the last three days — 207 student cases and 29 staff cases.
The COVID-19 cases are currently from 1,062 out of 4,828 schools in the province, which is 22 per cent of schools. Eighty-three schools in Ontario are currently closed as a result of positive cases, the government indicated.
There have been a total of 3,805 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 76 (54 new child cases and 22 staff cases). Out of 5,279 child care centres in Ontario, 353 currently have cases and 92 centres are closed.
— With files from The Canadian Press
Comments