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Ontario extends state of emergency to May 12 30 COVID-19 cases in Toronto’s shelter system

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4:07 pm Toronto has more than 2,500 cases of COVID-19  

As of 12:30 pm today, there are 2,543 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, including 2,257 confirmed cases and 286 probable cases. The city’s medical officer of health Eileen de Villa reported that 220 people are hospitalized, including 90 patients who are in intensive cared.

Long-term care homes have seen the bulk of deaths during the pandemic. De Villa said there are 38 active outbreaks in long-term care homes and 14 in retirement homes. There have been 68 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in long-term care homes and one confirmed COVID-19 death in a retirement home.

In total, 115 people have died in Toronto.


3:50 pm Ontario extends state of emergency to May 12

Ontario extended its state of emergency to May 12 during a special sitting of the legislature today. The bill extends the order closing all non-essential workplaces, outdoor amenities, including parks and recreational areas, bars and restaurants. Social gatherings of more than five people are also prohibited.

Premier Doug Ford said earlier today that schools will not reopen on May 4, but the school year is not being cancelled. 


3:16 pm Canada Basketball cancels national championships

The 2020 Canada Basketball men’s and women’s under 15 and under 17 national championships, which were scheduled for Kingston and Charlottetown August 2-9, have been officially cancelled.

Basketball Canada president and CEO Glen Grunwald said in a statement released this afternoon that “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we have made the difficult yet necessary decision to cancel this summer’s national championships to ensure the safety of all involved and our communities.”

Grunwald said that logistical concerns, including team selection timelines the availability of venues and travel accommodations and bookings, were factors in the decision.

Kingston, Ontario and Ontario Basketball were scheduled to host the 2020 Canada Basketball under 15 and under 17 men’s national championship. Charlottetown was to host the women’s championship.

Dates for both the 2021 Canada Basketball men’s and women’s under 15 national Championships will be announced later this year. The men’s and women’s under 17 national championships will be held as part of the Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games. Quebec swept all four competitions last summer.


2:08 pm 30 COVID-19 cases in the city’s shelter system

There are 30 cases of COVID-19 among clients in seven shelter-service settings, Toronto’s medical officer of health Eileen de Villa said earlier today.

During a news conference to update the public on the spread of the virus in the city’s shelter system, de Villa said many of the cases have been resolved but there are three active investigations into cases at Willowdale Welcome Centre, Dixon Hall and Seaton House.

There have been no deaths in the shelter setting, de Villa added, while noting there is strong reason for concern as 30 per cent of the city’s cases are attributed to community spread.


1:31 pm Travellers must now quarantine in hotels: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that asymptomatic travellers returning to Canada must now quarantine in hotels if they don’t have a credible quarantine plan.

“As of today, we are strengthening measures,” he said. “Now, if asymptomatic travellers cannot explain a credible quarantine plan, they will be required to quarantine in a hotel. This will come into effect at midnight tonight.

Trudeau also hinted that commercial rent relief for small businesses is on the way.

The government will announce new financial support measures to help students and essential workers, he said, adding that Canada is also “working to enhance Canada Emergency Business Account and new supports on commercial rents for businesses hardest hit.”


10:50 am Ontario’s COVID-19 cases go up by 483

Ontario now has 7,953 cases of COVID-19, public health officials reported on Tuesday. The province saw a single-day increase of 483 known cases – or 6.5 per cent. There have been 334 deaths in the province and 3,568 cases have been resolved.

The number of patients hospitalized in the province is 769, with 255 in intensive care and 199 in intensive care on ventilators.

The total number of people tested is 113,082 and 2,107 cases are under investigation.


10:25 am Ontario to extend state of emergency for 28 days

The Ontario legislature will convene today to extend the province’s state of emergency for another 28 days.

Despite some cautiously optimistic signs that physical distancing is having an effect in the fight against COVID-19, Ford said during his daily press briefing on Monday that it is too soon to lift the emergency orders requiring non-essential businesses and workplaces to close.


9:15 am St. Joseph’s Health Centre declares COVID-19 outbreak

St. Joseph’s Health Centre in the city’s west end has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in the intensive care unit after one patient and two staff members tested positive, the hospital said in a statement.

The hospital, which is located The Queensway near Roncevalles, said in a statement that a patient being treated in the ICU tested positive after developing a new respiratory illness while in hospital. Two staffers that had contact with the patient also tested positive.

“These staff are both doing well and are at home,” the hospital said. “We have implemented all outbreak precautions in our ICU. All patients who were in the ICU last week at the time that this patient was identified have been swabbed and results have come back negative. As a precautionary measure, all ICU patients are on droplet precautions for 14 days.

“Admissions to the ICU will continue from inpatient areas. At present, any patients coming to the emergency department requiring an ICU level of care will be transferred to another facility which will be reassessed daily as we monitor the situation.”


9:10 am 25 people dead of COVID-19 at Etobicoke nursing home

The executive director a nursing home in Etobicoke said that a total of 25 residents have died from COVID-19. 

Eatonville Care Centre’s Evelyn MacDonald confirmed in a statement on Monday night that the increase in deaths is based on changes to criteria in provincial testing guidelines – not new fatalities. The deaths of nine residents that previously died due to unknown causes are now attributed to COVID-19

The home is located at the East Mall and Burnamthorpe.

On Monday, Ontario’s associate chief medical office of health Barbara Yaffe said there are COVID-19 outbreaks in 89 long-term care homes in the province and 120 residents have died.

In Toronto, 39 long-term care homes have one or more COVID-19 cases and there have been 50 COVID-19 deaths in these homes. The total number of people that have died of COVID-19 in Toronto is 92.


9:05 am Canada has over 25,000 cases of COVID-19

There are 25,680 cases of COVID-19 in Canada and 780 people have died. The outbreak is a serious public health threat though most people who contract the virus have not been hospitalized. 

Symptoms include cough, fever, difficulty breathing and pneumonia in both lungs and may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure. People age 65 and over and people with compromised immune systems and/or underlying medical conditions have a higher risk of contracting a severe case.

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