Toronto reporting record-high 559 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday

Toronto reported 559 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a record high for the city since the pandemic began.

Toronto Public Health reported that 181 people are currently in hospital with 358 recovered and four more reported deaths.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Province of Ontario reported that Toronto had 569 cases, but the local public health agency said that the numbers are inaccurate as there was a “technical issue that has been resolved.”

There have been 35,665 cases (559 new since Nov 15), 181 ppl are in hospital (11 new), 1,468 deaths (4 new) & 29,431 recoveries (358 new). Today’s number of new cases differs from that reported by the prov due to a technical issue that has been resolved. https://t.co/sLrKpIOwsV pic.twitter.com/yq2gK7ZQuf

— Toronto Public Health (@TOPublicHealth) November 17, 2020

The city’s current seven-day moving average is 453 cases with 10.6 new hospitalizations and 50 active daily COVID-19 outbreaks.

And 40% of laboratory testing gets back to people within 24 hours — the goal is to have it at 60% or more, and 84% of testing gets back within 48 hours — the goal is to have more than 80%.

Toronto Public Health

On Monday, Mayor John Tory said “further action” could be taken to curb the virus’s resurgence in Toronto.

“We spent considerable time on the weekend discussing what should be done. To me, the status quo is not enough, and the measures should be made stronger.”

The mayor added that the city is “actively exploring what further restrictions may be needed.”

“We are being confronted by this second wave, and I know people are tired, and they’re frustrated. Together the vast majority are committed to breaking the second wave.”

While Tory did not say what is being discussed, he did note that stores and malls would need to implement limits of people allowed in, as a lack of capacity limit could create a “crowd scene,” which is “not good in retaining the virus.”

Toronto moved into the red zone on November 14 but has additional restrictions imposed by the city’s top doctor, Eileen de Villa. These include closing indoor dining, fitness classes, cinemas, and reducing gatherings to just immediate households with one or two essential supports.

To date, there have been a total of 35,665 cases of coronavirus in the city.