Here are the latest developments on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Thursday:
Here’s what outdoor amenities can reopen in Ontario on Saturday
Outdoor amenities will be allowed to reopen effective Saturday as Ontario unveiled its reopening plan amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday.
The following are allowed to reopen Saturday, though with some restrictions in place:
- Golf courses and driving ranges
- Soccer and other sports fields
- Tennis and basketball courts
- Skate parks.
No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted.
Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events will also be expanded to five people, including with members of different households.
Schools to remain closed as Ontario unveils reopening plan
Schools will remain closed and students will continue with remote learning, the Ontario government said while announcing its reopening plan on Thursday.
Ford said there are differing opinions on the matter, pointing to Williams being in favour of reopening schools. However, the premier said some doctors on the science table are not in favour.
Modelling numbers released earlier on Thursday indicated that if schools were to reopen on June 2, after the current stay-at-home order expires, that cases could jump anywhere between six to 11 per cent.
“I know a lot of parents are anxious,” Ford said. “There’s also the fact … that it could possibly increase cases by 11 per cent and that’s concerning to me … when it compounds so quickly.”
What you can do and when under Ontario’s new 3-phase COVID-19 reopening plan
The Ontario government has unveiled a three-phase COVID-19 reopening plan that will gradually guide the province as it emerges from a weeks-long stay-at-home order imposed on all regions.
Phase one will begin as soon as 60 per cent of all eligible Ontario residents have received their first of two COVID-19 vaccine doses, which is estimated to begin around June 14 based on trends seen in mid-May. However, Elliott said the date could change if there’s a change in health indicators. This phase is primarily focused on resuming outdoor activities where there are small crowds.
Here are the highlights of what’s allowed under the first phase:
– Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people
– Patios with up to four people at each table
– Retail will begin reopening with a 15-per-cent cap for non-essential businesses, 25 per cent for essential retail
– Outdoor religious ceremonies and rite with capacity limits and two-metre physical distancing requirements
– Outdoor sports and training for up to 10 people allowed
– Day camps, campgrounds, Ontario Parks, horse racing, speedways, outdoor pools, zoos, splash pads allowed
Ontario can only have ‘good summer’ if COVID-19 vaccines continue, some measures remain: officials
Ontario’s latest modelling projections indicate that maintaining good progress on COVID-19 vaccinations and some public health measures until mid-June “can help ensure a good summer.”
On Thursday, the science advisory table released modelling documents that indicated cases, test positivity and hospitalization rates are declining. It also said due to current public health measures “control of the pandemic is improving.”
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported 2,400 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.
Of those:
- 607 were in Toronto
- 528 were in Peel Region
- 181 were in York Region
- 110 were in Durham Region
- 69 were in Halton Region
Ontario reports 2,400 new COVID-19 cases, 27 deaths
Ontario is reporting 2,400 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. The provincial total now stands at 517,090.
The death toll in the province has risen to 8,552 as 27 more deaths were recorded.
More than 7.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far. That marks an increase of 144,986 vaccines in the last day. There are 473,759 people fully vaccinated with two doses.
Variants of concern in Ontario
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 114,569 variant cases, which is up by 1,810 since the previous day, 684 B.1.351 variant cases which is up by one, and 2,089 P.1 variant cases which is up by 30.
Cases, deaths and outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 3,767 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is an increase of one death since yesterday. Thirteen virus-related deaths in total have been reported among staff.
There are 37 current outbreaks in homes, which is up by two from the previous day.
The ministry also indicated there are currently 52 active cases among long-term care residents 101 99 active cases among staff — up by eight and up by two, respectively, in the last day.
NOTE: This page will be updated throughout the day.
— With files from The Canadian Press