kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region as well as in Ontario.
Today, the Ontario government is reporting 203 new cases, the single largest increase in almost a month — a development that Ontario premier Doug Ford and his health minister Christine Elliott call “concerning.”
Most of the new cases are due to outbreaks in Ottawa (43), Peel Region (57), and Windsor-Essex (24). Ontario has not reported an increase of more than 200 cases since June 28, when 257 cases were reported, most of which were due to increased testing among migrant farm workers in Windsor-Essex.
“While one day of data, today’s increase is concerning,” Elliott writes on Twitter. She also points out another concerning trend: of the new cases, 116 of them (57 per cent) are people under the age of 39. A similar trend of the spread of the coronavirus among younger people has been seen in American states experiencing a surge of new cases, as well as in Alberta.
At a media conference held outdoors in Mississauga on Tuesday (July 21), Premier Doug Ford echoed his health minister’s concern and attributed the increase to young people not taking the pandemic seriously enough.
“I just have a message for the young people,” Ford said. “Don’t go to a party — simple. It might not be you, but it’s going to be your parents or your grandparents, as I always says, or your neighbours, or your friends, or relatives. You’re hurting people by doing this. Go back to the golden rule: wear a mask. If you don’t have a mask, keep six feet or two metres — practice social distancing, continue to sanitize your hands. I just ask people, just hold off on these parties. I don’t know why everyone wants to party so badly. Enough. We have to keep this in control.”
The average number of new cases in Ontario has been trending up since July 16. Elliott is also encouraging Ontarians of all ages to continue to adhere to public health guidelines, including wearing a face mask when physical distancing is a challenge.
While one day of data, today’s increase is concerning. Ontarians of all ages need to continue to adhere to public health guidelines: maintain only one social circle of 10 people, physically distance with anyone outside of it and wear a face covering when doing so is a challenge.
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) July 21, 2020
As for the Kawarthas, Peterborough Public Health is reporting no new cases for the 31st day in a row. The other two health units in the region — Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health — only provide reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; the next reports will be available on July 22.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (93 resolved with 2 deaths), 173 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (151 are resolved), 25 in Northumberland County (23 resolved), 11 in Haliburton County (10 resolved), and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (37 resolved).
There has been a total of 39 deaths in the greater Kawarthas region since the pandemic began, with 32 of these deaths in Kawartha Lakes. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there have been 37,942 confirmed cases, an increase of 205 from yesterday’s report, with 33,605 (88.6% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 92. There have been 2,753 deaths, an increase of 1 from yesterday, with 1,732 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 2 (no explanation is provided for the number of deaths in long-term care homes exceeding the total number of deaths). A total of 1,910,109 tests have been completed, an increase of 22,974 from yesterday, with 11,842 tests under investigation, an increase of 491.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
Peterborough Public Health
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Confirmed positive: 95 (no change, last positive case was on June 20)
Active cases: 0 (no change)
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 93 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 20,300 (increase of 50)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit is now only updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 21; the next report will be available on July 22.
Confirmed positive: 209, including 173 in Kawartha Lakes, 25 in Northumberland, 11 in Haliburton (increase of 3, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton)
Hospitalizations: 14 (no change)
Deaths: 32 (no change)
Resolved: 184, including 151 in Kawartha Lakes, 23 in Northumberland, 10 in Haliburton (increase of 2 in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit is now only updating its report on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from July 21; the next report will be available on July 22.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18)
Probable cases: 181 (no change)
Deaths: 5 (no change)
Hospitalized: 0 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change)
Recovered: 37 (no change)
Total tests completed: 14,531 (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 37,942 (increase of 203)
Resolved: 33,605 (increase of 92, 88.6% of all cases are resolved)
Hospitalized: 120 (increase of 5)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 36 (decrease of 1)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 23 (decrease of 1)
Deaths: 2,753 (increase of 1)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,732 (increase of 2)*
Total tests completed 1,910,109 (increase of 22,974)
Tests under investigation: 11,842 (increase of 491)
*No explanation is provided for the number of deaths in long-term care homes exceeding the total number of deaths. However, as a decrease of 1 in long-term care home deaths was reported yesterday, this is likely a data-reporting adjustment.
COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from June 20 – July 20, 2020. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.
