Northern Ontario lockdown extended by two weeks

There also were three new resolved cases, bringing the region’s active case count down to 29 from 30 Wednesday. They include 19 in Nipissing District and 10 in Parry Sound District.

There have now been 163 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, of which 92 have been in Nipissing District and 71, including one death, have been in Parry Sound District.

A total of 72,778 tests have been completed to date.

The province said Northern Ontario currently has nine COVID-19 patients requiring acute care and four in intensive care units, with two on a ventilator.

It added that financial support is available for families through the Support for Learners program. Starting Jan. 11, the program will be expanded to provide $200 for each child and youth up to grade 12 and $250 for those up to 21 years of age with special needs. Applications will be open until Feb. 8.

The province also is providing between $10,000 and $20,000 to eligible small businesses through the Ontario Small Business Support Grant. Rebates are being offered to offset property tax and energy bills for businesses required to shut down or whose services are restricted.

Ontario reported 3,519 new cases of COVID-19, a record high for infections registered in a 24-hour period.

The previous record for new daily cases was set five days earlier, when 3,363 infections were reported.

The province reported 89 additional deaths, surpassing some days in the first wave of COVID-19 in Ontario.

There also are 1,472 hospitalized across Ontario, with 363 in intensive care.

Thursday’s total includes 891 new cases in Toronto, 568 in Peel, 457 in York Region, 208 in Windsor-Essex County and 175 in Waterloo. When adjusted for population, however, the five health unit regions with the most active cases are Windsor-Essex (432 per 100,000), Peel (368), Toronto (267), Middlesex London (227), and York Region (226).

With files from Postmedia