Ontario confirms spike in new coronavirus cases

May 19 2020, 2:47 pm

The Province of Ontario confirms there are 15 more COVID-19 related deaths, with 427 new cases, as of Tuesday morning.

This marks a spike in new cases compared to Monday’s 304.

The news comes after the province entered Stage 1 of its framework to reopen the economy on Tuesday, allowing certain businesses and recreational activities to reopen.

However, even though reopening the economy has begun, Premier Doug Ford’s government extended its emergency orders for another 10 days to help stop the spread of coronavirus on Tuesday as well.

The emergency orders are currently in force until May 29.

According to the province, that includes the closure of bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery only, restrictions on social gatherings of more than five people, and staff redeployment rules for long-term care homes and congregate settings like retirement homes and women’s shelters.

The province’s total is now 23,384 but 76.5% of the cases have been resolved, with 17,898 patients recovered.

A total of 1,919 people have died from coronavirus in Ontario, and there are 2,294  cases currently under investigation.

According to the Public Health Ontario Daily Epidemiologic Summary (iPHIS), there are 220 outbreaks with 1,115 resident deaths. Around 18% of cases in all of Ontario come from long-term care homes.

However, the Ministry of Long-Term Care Daily Report, there have been 190 outbreaks reported in long-term care homes. And, they report 1,408 resident deaths.

Government of Ontario

According to Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario relies on local public health units to report on the coronavirus, both in the community and in long-term care homes, through iPHIS, in which there is a delay in the data being received.

At the same time, the Ministry of Long-Term Care has started collecting information about coronavirus in long-term care homes through its network of inspectors.

There were 5,813 tests completed from the previous day. To date, a total of 559,794 have been tested across Ontario.

The Greater Toronto Area public health units account for more than half of the cases at 63.1%.

Of the total cases, 42.4% are male and 56.9% are female, with 42.1% of cases age 60 years and older.

To date, there are 987 hospitalized, with 167 in ICU, and 123 patients are on ventilators.

Government of Ontario

The daily summary is based on data reported by the 34 public health units across Ontario and recorded in the province’s integrated Public Health Information System, according to the Ontario government.

iPHIS is the Ministry of Health’s disease reporting system where data is regularly updated, and where each daily summary is pulled at 4 pm the previous day.

Clarrie FeinsteinClarrie Feinstein

+ News
+ Coronavirus
ADVERTISEMENT