Provincial COVID-19 cases near 1,000 with 135 more reported this morning

The province of Ontario is reporting 135 more lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 this morning, bringing the total to just under 1,000 positive tests for the province. 

Today’s test results are slightly under yesterday’s report of 170 new confirmed cases. The total for the province is now 993. 

There have been 18 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Ontario. Of those, there has been one man in his 40s and one man in his 50s die as a result of the virus. The rest of the victims have been reported in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. 

There have been four deaths reported by Toronto Public Health, three in Durham Region, one in Hamilton, one in St. Catharines, one in Ottawa, three in Simcoe Muskoka, one in Markham, one from Milton, and one from Lindsay. The other two deaths were reported this morning by the province, and the location of the deaths has not yet been confirmed.

Today is the first report since the pandemic began that didn't come with a list of new confirmed cases from the province. Previously the province listed each individual case and would include information for some of those listings on the health unit reporting the case, the age and gender of the patient, method of transmission (travel or community), and status of the patient (hospitalized, self-isolating). Over the past few days the list became more and more scarce in details with more than half of the list stating "pending" for all information fields. This morning the province reported numbers only and no list.

SMDHU is now reporting 33 lab-confirmed cases in the region, with confirmed cases in Collingwood (1), Barrie (7), Orillia (4), Springwater (1), Clearview (2), New Tecumseth (3), Adjala-Tosorontio (1), Bradford West Gwillimbury (6), Essa (1), Midland (2), Oro-Medonte (1) and Huntsville (1). The remaining three cases have not yet been posted with information.

There are at least five hospitalized, though the health unit has not reported details on all 33 cases yet.

Testing is limited in the province, and not all cases of COVID-19 will be lab-confirmed. Health officials from the province, the region, and the country, are warning people to stay home as much as possible and to practice physical distancing when they are out. 

They have urged now is the time to act to slow the spread of the virus and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by new cases. 

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will be providing an update today via Facebook live at 1 p.m.

For resources and information on COVID-19, visit the Ontario Public Health website.