Fourth straight day of 700-plus new COVID-19 cases in Ontario

Ontario is reporting more than 700 new cases of COVID-19 for the fourth straight day.

Health officials confirmed 741 new infections on Sunday – the second-highest single-day total of the past four days – as the seven-day rolling average climbed to 645, the highest its been since September 23.

Of the new cases, 410 are in those who are not fully vaccinated or who have an unknown vaccination status, while 331 are fully vaccinated.

Provincial officials report 107 people are in hospital due to COVID-19, however, hospitalization numbers are underreported on the weekend. There were more than 280 reported the previous day. The number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU remained relatively unchanged at 135.

Simcoe-Muskoka is reporting 84 new cases followed by Toronto with 80. Windsor-Essex confirmed 50 new infections with Ottawa close behind at 48. Peel Region added 43 new cases with York Region reporting 26.

Another three people have died as a result of the virus, bringing the provincial death toll to 9,967.

The province completed 29,799 tests in the past 24 hours with a test positivity rate of 2.6 per cent.

Health officials say 11,404 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered on Friday, including just over 4,000 first doses. So far, almost 89 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and over have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and more than 85 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Canada is expecting to receive initial shipments Sunday of the Pfizer vaccine for kids, with almost 3 million of the child-sized doses set to arrive by the end of the week – enough for a first dose for every child in the five to 11 age group.

In anticipation, the City of Toronto says it will open approximately 20,000 appointments this week for kids five to 11 to receive the vaccine between Nov. 25 and Dec. 5. The city is also extending hours at its city run clinics.

School clinics are also being set up and the city says they may start administering doses as quickly as this week, depending on the arrival of the vaccine.

Children will also be able to get a vaccine at any Toronto hospitals, pharmacies or family physicians that are offering the shot.