Ontario records 1,373 new COVID-19 cases; set to release holiday guidelines

Ontario is reporting 1,373 new cases of COVID-19 today, and 35 new deaths linked to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says 445 of today’s new cases are in Toronto, while 415 are in Peel Region.

Eleven fewer people are hospitalized with COVID-19, according to today’s numbers, for a total of 523.

The number in ICU remains 159, and 15 more people are on a ventilator, totalling at 106.

The numbers come as the Ontario government is expected to spell out its guidelines for celebrating the upcoming winter holidays during the pandemic.

Toronto and Peel Region are currently under the grey or lockdown level in the province’s tiered COVID-19 restrictions system, with tougher measures to stay in place at least until the week of Christmas.

Public health measures under the lockdown level include a ban on indoor gatherings except with those in the same household, as well as closing down restaurants for all but takeout and delivery.

The province’s top doctor said earlier this week it seemed unlikely the situation would improve in those regions enough over 28 days to warrant moving them to the red alert level, which is one level lower.

Five other regions — Hamilton, Durham, Halton, York and Waterloo — are currently classified as red zones, which caps social gatherings at five people indoors and 25 outdoors.

Ontario’s most recent modelling showed the province is on track to see up to 6,500 new daily cases of COVID-19 by mid-December, though those projections are expected to be updated Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2020.

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