Ontario reports a record-breaking 5,790 new COVID-19 cases
Published December 23, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Ontario has recorded its highest ever single day COVID-19 case count with Christmas Eve just a day away.
Data from the province showed there were 5,790 new cases reported on Thursday, which is nearly 3,000 more cases that the previous record of 4,812 infections in a single day reported back in April.
There were seven COVID-19 deaths reported on Thursday as the positivity rate in Ontario is also on the rise, jumping some 10 per cent in just one day up to approximately 16 per cent.
Toronto alone had more than 1,500 new cases on Thursday.
Ontario’s chief medical officer of health said earlier this week that the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus is now the dominant strain in Ontario.
Dr. Kieran Moore said on Tuesday that hospitalizations due to COVID-19 had increased by nine percent, and while ICU occupancy was stable the province is preparing for an increase in admission due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
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The province put new COVID-19 safety measures in place on the weekend, including caps on social gathering at 10 people indoors.
Capacity limits for all indoor public settings are being reduced to 50 per cent, except for religious settings.
Bars and restaurants will have hours of operation reduced to 11:00 p.m., except for take-out and delivery. Alcohol service will be restricted after 10:00 p.m.
Social gathering will be capped at 10 people indoors, and 25 people outdoors.
No food or drinks will be served at sporting events, concert venues, theaters or cinemas, bingo halls and other gaming establishments.
Of Thursday’s new cases, more than 1,100 were people who have not received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. But unvaccinated people made up more than 81 per cent of the 169 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units across Ontario.
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