Ontario reports over 3,200 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths

The Government of Ontario confirmed 3,270 new COVID-19 cases on Monday morning, as testing remained low at 39,100 from the previous day.

The province also confirmed an additional 29 deaths related to COVID-19.

Today’s cases are an increase from Sunday’s 2,964, but a drop from the record-breaking 3,363 reported on Saturday.

Daily case counts have remained above 2,000 for weeks, with Friday’s 2,476, Thursday’s 3,328, Wednesday’s 2,923, Tuesday’s 2,553, and Monday’s 1,939.

Before Monday’s numbers, the last time cases were below 2,000 was on December 14, when 1,940 cases were confirmed.

Of the newly announced cases, 917 are in Toronto, 581 are in Peel, 389 are in York Region, 246 are in Windsor-Essex County, and 131 are in Ottawa.

Ontario is reporting 3,270 cases of #COVID19 and over 39,100 tests completed. Locally, there are 917 new cases in Toronto, 581 in Peel, 389 in York Region, 246 in Windsor-Essex County and 131 in Ottawa.

Today’s numbers will be available at 10:30 a.m. at https://t.co/ypmgZbVRvn.

— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) January 4, 2021

Ontario is currently under a province-wide lockdown that will be in effect in northern Ontario for 14 days, and the southern part of the province for 28 days. The restrictions will be evaluated throughout the lockdown, rather than when they are set to expire.

Elliot added, “all Ontarians are advised to stay home as much as possible and limit trips outside of your home to necessities.”

Health officials confirmed that the three cases of the COVID-19 UK variant have been found in Ontario. The fast-spreading virus mutation was first detected in a couple from Durham Region.

Although the new variant of the virus has been found to spread quicker, there is no evidence to suggest that approved vaccines will be any less effective against it.

To date, Ontario has seen 194,232 COVID-19 cases.