Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario and the greater Kawarthas region.
With Ontario reporting 293 new COVID-19 cases today, the seventh straight day of daily increases over 200, Premier Doug Ford announced new restrictions on organized public events and social gatherings in Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel Region — the three areas of the province that have consistently reported the highest number of new cases.
Ford also announced legislation to introduce a new minimum fine of $10,000 for the organizers of illegal social gatherings. “This is the highest fine anywhere in the entire country,” Ford said. This fine, which would apply everywhere in Ontario, is in addition to the $750 fine for individuals who show up at illegal gatherings.
“We will throw the book at you if you break the rules,” Ford said during a media conference at Queen’s Park on Thursday (September 17), where he was accompanied by health minister Christine Elliott, municipal affairs and housing minister Steve Clark, and chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams.
“We can’t afford to let a few rule-breakers reverse all the hard work and progress the people of Ontario have made over the past six months,” Ford added. “It’s just not fair to the vast majority of people who are following the rules and thinking of others.’
As of Friday (September 18), in Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel, outdoor events or gatherings are now restricted to a maximum of 25 people (instead of the previous 100) and indoor gatherings are now restricted to a maximum 10 people (instead of the previous 50). The restriction applies to functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs, or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks, and other recreational areas.
The new limits will not apply to events or gatherings held in staffed businesses and facilities, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, convention centres or banquet halls, gyms, and recreational sporting or performing art events. Existing rules, including public health and workplace safety measures, for these businesses and facilities continue to be in effect.
Ford also announced legislation that would freeze rent increases in 2021 for most rent-controlled and non-rent-controlled residential units, along with legislation to extend the ban on commercial evictions until October 30, 2020.
Of the 293 new COVID-19 cases reported in Ontario today, most are in Toronto (85), Peel (63), Ottawa (39), and York (37) with smaller increases in Halton (12), Simcoe Muskoka (10), Windsor-Essex (7), Niagara (7), Waterloo (6), Middlesex-London (6), and Hamilton (6). The remaining 23 public health units in Ontario are reporting five or fewer cases, with 14 reporting no new cases.
Of the new cases, 70% are among people under the age of 40. There have been 3 new deaths, and 9 new hospitalizations. There are 21 new cases identified in Ontario schools (5 students, 4 staff, and 12 unidentified) and 2 new cases (1 child and 1 staff) in licensed child care settings.
Ontario completed 35,134 tests yesterday and — reflecting the continued increase in testing — is reporting a backlog of test results, with 37,624 tests currently being investigated.
One new case of COVID-19 in Peterborough
In the greater Kawarthas region, there is 1 new case to report in Peterborough, for a total of 6 active cases. There are no reports available today for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Prince Edward and Hastings counties. None of the 21 COVID-19 cases identified in schools and child care settings are in the Kawarthas.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 111 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (103 resolved with 2 deaths), 178 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (159 resolved with 32 deaths), 40 in Northumberland County (34 resolved with 1 death), 15 in Haliburton County (15 resolved with no deaths), and 52 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County (42 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.
Province-wide, there have been 45,676 confirmed cases, an increase of 293 from yesterday, with 40,424 (88.5% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 179. There have been 2,825 deaths, an increase of 3 from yesterday, with 1,824 deaths reported in long-term care homes (no change from yesterday). A total of 3,433,697 tests have been completed, an increase of 35,134 from yesterday, with 37,624 tests under investigation, an increase of 9,278 from yesterday.
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. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. 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: 111 (increase of 1)
Active cases: 6 (increase of 1)
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 103 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 26,850 (increase of 200)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (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 provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from September 16.
Confirmed positive: 233, including 178 in Kawartha Lakes, 40 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (increase of 3 in Northumberland, decrease of 1 in Kawartha Lakes)*
Probable cases: 0 (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change)
Deaths: 33 (no change)
Resolved: 208, including 159 in Kawartha Lakes, 34 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberand, decrease of 1 in Kawartha Lakes)*
Active cases: 5 (increase of 2 in Northumberland)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
*One previously reported case has been removed as it is a duplicate of a care reported by another public health unit.
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 provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from September 16.
Confirmed positive: 52 (no change)
Active cases: 5 (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: 42 (no change)
Total tests completed: 27,320 (increase of 1,427)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 45,676 (increase of 293)
Resolved: 40,424 (increase of 179, 88.5% of all cases)
Hospitalized: 53 (increase of 9)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 21 (increase of 1)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 12 (no change)
Deaths: 2,825 (increase of 3)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,824 (no change)
Total tests completed: 3,433,697 (increase of 35,134)
Tests under investigation: 37,624 (increase of 9,278)
For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.
This story has been updated with the latest COVID-19 statistics from Peterborough.
