Ontario reports lowest new coronavirus numbers since March
The Province of Ontario confirms there are 21 more COVID-19 related deaths and 287 new cases, as of Tuesday morning.
This marks a decrease in new cases compared to Monday’s 404 and Sunday’s 460, which was the highest number in four days.
Monday’s case numbers marked the fifth day in a row of over 400 new COVID-19 patients.
However, Tuesday’s new cases mark the lowest number since March 31, when Ontario reported 211 cases.
The low numbers, however, might be the result of a lack of sufficient testing.
There were 9,875 tests completed from the previous day, a slight increase from the 8,170 tests completed on Monday’s report, but lower than the 11,383 tests completed from Sunday’s report.
Premier Doug Ford wanted the province to test 16,000 people daily starting May 6. But, testing has been falling short of this goal recently.
On Sunday, Ford asked that more Ontario residents to get tested even if they are not showing symptoms, so the province can have a better understanding of the virus.
To date, a total of 629,414 have been tested across Ontario.
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The province’s total is now 26,191 but 76.2% of the cases have been resolved, with 19,958 patients recovered.
A total of 2,123 people have died from coronavirus in Ontario, and there are 6,961 cases currently under investigation.
According to the Public Health Ontario Daily Epidemiologic Summary (iPHIS), there are 201 outbreaks in long-term care homes, with 1,335 resident deaths. Around 18.7% of cases in all of Ontario come from these facilities.
However, the Ministry of Long-Term Care Daily Report says there have been 150 outbreaks reported in long-term care homes with 1,538 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.
The Greater Toronto Area public health units account for more than half of the cases at 65.1%.
Of the total cases, 43.1% are male and 56% are female, with 40.7% of cases age 60 years and older.
To date, there are 848 hospitalized, with 143 in ICU, and 113 patients 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.
Last week, the province also entered Stage 1 of its framework to reopen the economy, 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 until May 29 to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
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