Ontario reported more than 4,400 new COVID-19 cases over the past two days, setting a new single-day high on Tuesday with more than 2,550 new infections reported, even as provincial labs processed far fewer test specimens than normal.
“Today, there are 895 new cases in Toronto, 496 in Peel, 147 in Windsor-Essex County, 144 in Hamilton and 142 in York Region,” Health Minister Christine Elliott wrote on Twitter.
Ontario reported 2,142 new cases of COVID-19 on Dec. 26 and 2,159 on Christmas Day, setting a then record-high on Dec. 24 with 2,447.
On Monday, provincial labs detected 1,939 new cases, but on Tuesday 2,553 were found, the highest number of cases detected in a single day since the pandemic began in Ontario.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health, said the cases are not linked to the Christmas holiday.
“It’s too early for us to be seeing the results of any get-togethers that may have occurred. But what we have learned from our colleagues at Toronto Public Health is that the increase in their daily numbers can in part be attributed to pre-Christmas shopping, Christmas shopping trips, often in groups,” Yaffe said.
“We will also need to closely monitor to determine whether our numbers continue to trend in a similar direction or if this is a one- or two-day anomaly.”
There were also 78 deaths reported over the two days – 37 on Monday and 41 on Tuesday.
Thirty of those fatalities were residents of long-term care homes. One of the deaths reported involved someone aged 20 to 39.
There have now been 4,455 deaths reported in the province since early March, along with 151,562 recoveries.
Provincial labs processed far fewer specimens than usual over the past two days, in part due holiday slowdowns and closures of some assessment centres.
Labs processed 39,565 specimens on Monday and 34,112 specimens on Tuesday, finding worryingly high positivity rates on both days.
The positivity rate was 8.6 per cent on Monday and 9.7 per cent on Tuesday, the highest it has been province-wide since early April.
Provincial labs were often able to process more than 60,000 specimens a day in the month of December.
University of Toronto epidemiologist Colin Furness also said the cases revealed Tuesday are likely a result of activity prior to the Ontario-wide lockdown, which began on Boxing Day.
“These would have been people who were exposed and infected before Christmas, before the lockdown. The cases were rising so it’s not a surprise,” he told CP24. “If we are going to see an impact from the lockdown we will see it in a week or so.”
“The fact that we got this with a smaller number of tests, yeah it’s concerning. No question.”
The 895 new cases reported in Toronto on Tuesday represents a new record for the city.
Meanwhile, critical care hospitalizations continue to rise to levels not seen the entire length of the pandemic.
There were 332 people in intensive care across Ontario on Tuesday, according to a senior Toronto hospital official, citing the Critical Care Services Ontario report.
There were a total of 864 people receiving all levels of care for COVID-19 symptoms on Tuesday, according to the province, with 207 people breathing with the help of a ventilator.
But local public health units and hospital networks reported at least 1,034 people were in hospital for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the region, Durham reported 108 new cases while Halton Region reported 78 new cases.
Ahead of New Year celebrations, Yaffe urged residents to continue following public health protocols.
“Please remember that we are not over this side of the mountain just yet. We still have some kilometres to climb before we can safely go down the other side. So please celebrate this coming New Year with all the optimism and hope that it deserves but do so with great care.
“This year, we need to celebrate with those in our immediate household only so that next year we can gather and raise a toast with all our family and friends.”
