Covid-19 schools

Ontario reports 1,145 COVID-19 cases over two days as school set to reopen

Ontario reported 1,145 COVID-19 cases over a two-day period, with 581 cases recorded on Monday and 564 recorded on Tuesday (the province didn’t report COVID-19 case numbers on Monday as it was a statutory holiday). The numbers are moderately lower from the 811 cases reported on Sunday, 944 cases reported on Saturday, and 807 cases reported on Friday.

According to provincial Health Minister Christine Elliott, out of the cases recorded on Tuesday, 434 cases are in individuals who are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and 130 are in fully vaccinated individuals. From Monday’s cases, 457 were in individuals who are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and 124 were in fully vaccinated individuals.

Over the past two days, 582 cases were reported in females compared to 547 cases in males. Individuals 20 to 39 were the most diagnosed (411 cases), followed by ages 40–59 (292 cases).

Most of the cases reported on Monday and Tuesday were in Toronto (232 cases), Peel Region (139 cases), York Region (125 cases), and Windsor-Essex (127 case).

As of Tuesday, there are a total of 570,778 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, with 554,953 resolved cases.

There were five new COVID-19 deaths reported over the past two days, increasing the total COVID-19 death toll in the province to 9,553.

On the vaccine front—as of Tuesday morning, 20,985,716 doses of approved COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Ontario; 77.854% of people 12+ in Ontario are fully vaccinated and 84.417% of people 12+ in Ontario have received at least one dose.

Hospital admissions remain a concern, with 295 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 192 total patients are in ICU due to COVID-related critical illness, and 113 total patients in ICU on a ventilator due to COVID-related critical illness.

Meanwhile, students are heading back to class this week. According to a memo from the Ministry of Education, unvaccinated Ontario teachers and school staff will need to be tested for COVID-19 twice a week, as an added measure to protect schools from the risk of COVID-19.

The province also invested heavily in ventilation improvements to support safer schools.

“We have deployed standalone HEPA units into every kindergarten class, into every learning space without mechanical ventilation, and some school boards have gone even further by placing HEPA units in every classroom,” Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Our cautious plan is designed to minimize disruption and maximize safety — with a focus on ventilation improvements — so that your children can continue learning through the year,” Lecce added.

Click here for more COVID-19 Ontario updates.

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO