Ontario confirms 421 new cases of coronavirus, state of emergency to be extended
Posted April 13, 2020 10:42 am.
Last Updated April 13, 2020 3:53 pm.
Ontario confirmed 421 new cases of novel coronavirus on Monday, marking a six per cent increase in total cases over Sunday.
The provincial total now stands at 7,470.
The updated numbers include 17 more deaths, bringing the total to 291, while resolved cases jumped from 3,121 to 3,357.
The number of patients in hospital — 760 — rose slightly, but rates of patients in intensive care and on ventilators remained relatively stable.
Premier Doug Ford says the Ontario legislature will sit Tuesday to extend a state of emergency by another 28 days.
Ford says while there is a “glimmer of light” from some encouraging figures on the province’s fight against COVID-19, it is too early to start lifting any restrictions.
Ford also says the province’s supply of personal protective equipment is much better now than when he recently warned it was in danger of running out. He says the province has acquired more surgical masks, N95 masks and ventilators.
Ford has expressed frustration that Ontario has been testing for COVID-19 well below its capacity of 13,000 tests per day.
The province has said it will do 8,000 tests daily by Wednesday, but just over 5,000 were completed in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, there have been at least 89 COVID-19 outbreaks reported in long-term care homes across the province, with 741 residents and 430 staff members infected.
At least 120 residents have died in those outbreaks, or 41 per cent of all of the deaths in the province.
Some of the hardest-hit facilities include Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, where 29 residents have died, Seven Oaks in Toronto, where 22 residents have died, Almonte Country Haven outside Ottawa, where 14 residents have died, and Anson Place in Hagersville in southwestern Ontario, where 13 residents have died.
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