With Ontario reporting 407 new COVID-19 cases today, the second straight daily increase over 400, the government is extending restrictions on unmonitored and private social gatherings to the entire province.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Saturday morning (September 19) at a media conference at Queen’s Park along with health minister Christine Elliott and associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe.

“The alarm bells are ringing,” Ford said. “And too much of it is being tied to people who aren’t following the rules. People who think it’s okay to hold parties, to carry on as if things are back to normal. They aren’t.”

Ford said the government needs to take “decisive action” and, effective immediately, is extending the same restrictions currently in place in Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel Region for unmonitored and private social gatherings — a maximum of 10 people indoors and a maximum of 25 people outdoors — to every region in Ontario for the next 28 days.

“We made this decision on the advice of our chief medical officer of health, Dr. Williams, and our public health team,” Ford added. “Folks, we can’t have these wild parties right now. It’s just way, way too risky.”

Unmonitored and private social gatherings include functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs, or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks, and other recreational areas. Indoor and outdoor events and gatherings cannot be merged together — gatherings of 35 (25 outdoors and 10 indoors) are not permitted. Under new legislation, organizers and hosts of illegal gatherings face a minimum $10,000 fine, while individuals who attend such gatherings can already by fined $750 each.

“We can’t have people merging indoor and outdoor parties, so don’t try to get around the rules,” Ford said. “This is about everyone’s health and safety, and we have to come down hard on the rule-breakers. We have to crack down on the illegal parties.”

The new limits do not apply to events or gatherings held in staffed businesses and facilities, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, convention centres, banquet halls, gyms, places of worship, 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.

With the 407 new cases reported today, the number of active cases in Ontario is now at 5,707, an increase of 230. Most of the new cases are in Toronto (129), Peel (94), Ottawa (55), and York (28) with smaller increases in Halton (18), Waterloo (14), Hamilton (12), Simcoe Muskoka (11), Middlesex-London (10), Windsor-Essex (6), Durham (6), and a new outbreak in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (14). The remaining 22 public health units in Ontario are reporting five or fewer cases, with 14 reporting no new cases.

Of the new cases, 71% of today’s cases are among people under the age of 40. There have been 6 new hospitalizations and 1 new death. There is no change to the number of patients admitted to ICUs or on ventilators.

With Ontario completing 38,940 tests yesterday, the backlog of tests being investigated has now climbed to 42,778, an increase of 2,335 since yesterday.

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are no new cases to report in Peterborough (on September 19, the health unit reported 1 new case for a total of 112 cases and 7 active cases; this was an administrative error and has since been corrected). Reports are not issued on weekends for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

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), 41 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 (47 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.

Province-wide, there have been 46,484 confirmed cases, an increase of 407 from yesterday, with 40,777 (87.7% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 177. There have been 2,826 deaths, an increase of 1 from yesterday, with 1,824 deaths reported in long-term care homes (no change from yesterday). A total of 3,508,463 tests have been completed, an increase of 38,940 from yesterday, with 42,778 tests under investigation, an increase of 2,335 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 (no change)*
Active cases: 6 (no change)*
Deaths: 2 (no change)
Resolved: 103 (no change)
Total tests completed: Over 27,150 (increase of 150)
Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)

*On September 19, the health unit reported 1 new case, for a total of 112 cases and 7 active cases. This was an administrative error and has since been corrected.

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 18.

Confirmed positive: 234, including 178 in Kawartha Lakes, 41 in Northumberland, 15 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland)
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 (no change)
Active cases: 6 (increase of 1 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 provides reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, excluding statutory holidays. These numbers are from September 18.

Confirmed positive: 52 (no change)
Active cases: 0 (decrease of 5)
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: 47 (increase of 5)
Total tests completed: 28,894 (increase of 1,574)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 46,484 (increase of 407)
Resolved: 40,777 (increase of 177, 87.7% of all cases)
Active cases: 5,707 (increase of 230)
Hospitalized: 64 (increase of 6)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 20 (no change)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 10 (no change)
Deaths: 2,826 (increase of 1)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,824 (no change)
Total tests completed: 3,508,463 (increase of 38,940)
Tests under investigation: 42,778 (increase of 2,335)

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

This story has been updated with the September 19 COVID-19 report for Peterborough.

Four municipalities in the greater Kawarthas region are among the 16 Ontario communities receiving funding from the Canadian and Ontario governments to improve public transit. The City of Kawartha Lakes, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Bancroft will receive almost $3 million in joint funding for their public transit projects.

In total, the federal government is investing more than $23 million in 30 projects, with the Ontario government providing over $19.1 million and municipalities contributing more than $17.5 million.

Catherine McKenna, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced the funding on Friday (September 18) in the City of Kawartha Lakes, where she was joined by Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale, and Kawartha Lakes Deputy Mayor Pat O’Reilly.

“Investing in modern and accessible public transportation systems allows Canadians to get around in faster, cheaper and cleaner ways,” McKenna said. “These new buses, upgraded shelters, and modernized software systems will help make public transit in Ontario more accessible and convenient for riders.”

In Kawartha Lakes, $2.9 million will support the renovation and expansion of a bus maintenance facility, seven new conventional buses (five to replace retiring vehicles and two to expand the fleet), a new transit hub and 20 additional transit stops, and additional bike racks and bike corrals.

The funding will also be used for upgrades to transit software will enhance the transit system’s efficiency and connectivity with road and active transportation networks, and will provide for a better customer experience. The federal government is contributing $946,478, the province $788,542, and the City of Kawartha Lakes $1,120,980.

In Cobourg, $1.2 million will be used to purchase of three new buses (two conventional 30-foot transit buses and one eight-metre low floor specialized vehicle) to replace aging vehicles in the fleet, which will improve the town’s transit system by making all buses fully accessible. The federal government is contributing $496,182, the province $413,443, and Cobourg $330,829.

In Port Hope, $264,500 in funding will support the procurement of a new specialized transit vehicle to expand services to rural areas, while the installation of new bus shelters, benches, concrete pads, and sidewalk approaches will improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of the transit system. The federal government is contributing $105,800, the province $88,158, and Port Hope $70,542.

In Bancroft, $210,768 will be used to purchase three new specialized transit fleet vehicles, which will increase the frequency of the fixed-route service while improving the responsiveness of the town’s on-demand specialized transit service, resulting in improved capacity, quality, and accessibility for public transit users. The federal government is contributing $84,307, the province $70,249, and Bancroft $56,212.

Other communities receiving funding include Huntsville, Sarnia, Orillia, Midland, Halton Hills, Elliot Lake, Timmins, Stratford, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Collingwood, Orangeville, and Wasaga Beach.

If you normally drive on Parkhill Road East between Armour Road and Television Road in Peterborough, you’ll need to take another route for the next six or seven months.

Parks Canada announced on Friday (September 18) that the Warsaw Swing Bridge will be closed from October until the spring.

Pending contractor submissions, the bridge will be closed as of Monday, October 5th, and will remain closed over the fall and winter months. It will re-open in spring 2021, prior to the opening of navigation on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Parkhill Road East will only be closed at the swing bridge, with access to local businesses remaining open.

Detour signage will be in place, with eastbound traffic on Parkhill Road East being directed to Nassau Mills Road and westbound traffic directed to Lansdowne Street.

Parks Canada states that recent engineering inspections have shown the bridge is nearing the end of its useful life. The bridge was originally constructed in 1956, and is a twin to the Maria Street Swing Bridge in East City.

The work involves the full replacement of the steel swing bridge structure, repairs to concrete abutments, and replacement of mechanical and electrical operating systems. Large portions of the new bridge will be constructed off site and assembled in place.

Once complete, the swing bridge will have full highway load rating and a sidewalk for pedestrian use.

A frost advisory is in effect for almost all of southern Ontario, including the Kawarthas, overnight for the entire weekend until Monday morning.

Environment Canada is forecasting widespread frost overnight on Friday (September 18), Saturday, and Sunday due to a persistent ridge of high pressure bringing low nighttime temperatures below the freezing mark.

Freezing temperatures and frost are also expected each night through the weekend due to a persistent ridge of high pressure.

Frost may destroy fruit crops, vegetables, and other plants. Cover up plants, especially those in frost-prone areas. Take preventative measures to protect frost-sensitive plants and trees.

Environment Canada issues frost advisories when temperatures are expected to reach the freezing mark during the growing season, leading to potential damage and destruction to plants and crops.

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.

After a little more than a week at its new location at Northcrest Arena, Peterborough’s drive-through COVID-19 testing centre is relocating again — this time to help meet the higher demand for testing.

Effective next Monday (September 21), the centre for people without symptoms will be located at Eastgate Memorial Park at 2150 Ashburnham Drive in East City, north of Beavermead Park and across the road from the Trent-Severn Waterway headquarters.

The operating hours of the centre will remain the same: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The centre is led by Peterborough Paramedics with support from Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), the City of Peterborough, and Peterborough Public Health. A joint media release announcing the relocation states that the centre has seen higher-than-normal testing volumes since Labour Day, with more than 420 people tested on Tuesday (September 15) alone.

“Lines at testing centres in communities across Ontario have grown longer in recent days, and testing capacity is limited in many areas,” the media release states. “People should first seek testing options within the area where they live, work, or attend school.”

The drive-through centre is intended only for people who don’t have symptoms of COVID-19. People with symptoms should call PRHC’s Assessment Centre at 705-876-5086 to determine whether an appointment is required.

When visiting the testing centre, bring your Ontario Health Card and driver’s license with you if you have them. The final day of the centre’s operation at Northcrest Arena will be Friday (September 18).