TORONTO — Ontario is reporting a single-day record of 2,432 new cases of COVID-19 today, and 23 new deaths due to the virus.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 737 new cases in Toronto, 434 in Peel Region, 209 in York Region, 190 in Windsor-Essex, and 142 in Hamilton.
In the province’s long-term care homes, 819 residents currently have COVID-19 and 13 new deaths have been reported today.
The province says 140 of its 626 long-term care homes are experiencing an outbreak.
It also reported 170 new COVID-19 cases related to schools, including at least 143 among students.
Those bring the number of schools with a reported case to 955 out of Ontario’s 4,828 publicly funded schools.
Meanwhile, Ontario’s hospitals are calling for new and stricter lockdowns in hard-hit regions to halt the rapid spread of COVID-19.
The Ontario Hospital Association’s board of directors is making the request to the province after holding an emergency meeting to discuss hospital capacity issues amid surging infections.
It is asking the government to implement a four-week lockdown in every public health unit with an infection rate of 40/100,000 population or higher.
It says the move is necessary to protect people and ensure that hospitals do not face a surge in COVID-19 patients in January.
The association says the province’s lockdown restrictions should also be “rapidly” reassessed by independent experts to determine if additional measures are required.
It says the government should also offer paid sick leave and isolation accommodation to help those who cannot afford to take time off work if they contract the virus.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2020.
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