COVID-19: Latest developments in the Greater Toronto Area on May 13

Here are the latest developments on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Thursday:

The Toronto Zoo says it is holding a one-day vaccine clinic on Saturday for all residents aged 18 and older living in a designated Scarborough hot spot.

The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is by appointment only. Interested residents can book here.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the provincial restrictions in place, the zoo remains closed and the animals will not be a part of the vaccine experience.

Ontarians aged 40 and older can book COVID-19 vaccine appointments across the province today.

The province is opening eligibility to the age cohort through its vaccine booking portal.

Ontarians aged 12 to 17 years old will be eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine beginning May 31, the province announced Thursday.

Family members of those aged between 12 and 17 who have not received a first dose will also be eligible to book an appointment. There will also be special dedicated youth and family clinics throughout the weeks of June 14 and 21.

The premier has issued another letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arguing additional measures — such as quarantine requirements for travellers coming into Canada by land — are needing to curb the spread of more contagious COVID-19 variants.

Ontario reported 2,759 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday:

Of those:

• 774 were in Toronto
• 602 were in Peel Region
• 258 were in York Region
• 147 were in Durham Region
• 104 were in Halton Region*

As the Ontario government reported 2,759 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, it also marked a pivotal new milestone in its 15-month pandemic fight: cumulatively more than half a million tests — 502,171 — have come back positive for the virus.

When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, Ontario’s first 100,000 cumulative cases were recorded on Nov. 20, then 200,000 cases on Jan. 6, then 300,000 cases on Feb. 28, and 400,000 cases on April 15.

The last 100,000 cases to today’s date took just shy of one month (28 days) to reach as the province grappled with a third wave that saw record cases and hospitalizations.

Officials have listed breakdown data for the new VOCs (variants of concern) detected so far in the province which consist of the B.1.1.7 (first detected in the United Kingdom), B.1.351 (first detected in South Africa), P.1 (first detected in Brazil), as well as mutations that have no determined lineage.

The B.1.1.7 VOC is currently the dominating known strain at 101,232 variant cases, which is up by 2,737 since the previous day, 574 B.1.351 variant cases which is up by six, and 1,727 P.1 variant cases which is up by 44.

According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 3,764 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is unchanged since yesterday. Eleven virus-related deaths in total have been reported among staff.

There are 41 current outbreaks in homes, which is down by two from the previous day.

The ministry also indicated there are currently 66 active cases among long-term care residents and 149 active cases among staff — up by one and down by eight, respectively, in the last day.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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