Ontario records more than 1,800 new cases of COVID-19 for second straight day, 29 more deaths

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TORONTO — Ontario is reporting more than 1,800 new COVID-19 infections for the second day in a row as testing in the province remains high.

The 1,822 new cases represent a slight decrease from Friday’s total when a record-breaking 1,855 infections were logged.

Ontario’s COVID-19 case total now stands at 113,038, including deaths and recoveries.

Health officials recorded 29 more deaths as a result of the disease in the last 24-hour period pushing Ontario’s COVID-19 death toll to 3,624. At least 11 of those 29 deaths were residents of a long-term care home.

As well, 95,876 people have recovered from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic with 1,510 cases being marked as resolved since yesterday.

Saturday's report also marks the second consecutive day in which the province has surpassed its daily testing goal of 50,000. With 55,086 tests completed in the last 24 hours, Ontario's COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 3.4 per cent.

On Friday, the province processed a record 58,037 tests for the novel coronavirus.

Most of the new cases logged Saturday are in people between the ages of 20 and 39 with 688 more infections recorded in that age group.

Another 519 cases were recorded in people between the ages of 40 and 59. At least 258 cases were added in people 19 years of age and younger. There were 257 cases reported in people between the ages of 60 and 79.

People 80 years of age and older accounted for 100 of the new cases.

Where are the new COVID-19 cases?

Most of the new infections were found in Toronto and Peel Region, two areas currently observing the lockdown measures of the province’s COVID-19 framework.

Toronto reported 566 cases and Peel reported 516 cases. The public health restrictions for those two regions went into effect on Monday and saw the closure of most non-essential businesses, including gyms and onsite dining at restaurants. Those measures will extend for a minimum of 28 days.

There were also more than 100 new cases reported in York Region, Waterloo and the City of Hamilton Saturday. Those regions are in the “red zone” of the province’s COVID-19 framework which places a limit on indoor gatherings and other non-essential activities.

At least 12 other regions across Ontario reported new case numbers in the double digits including Windsor-Essex, Halton and Durham.

Right now, there are 595 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals across Ontario, up from the 541 patients reported a day earlier. Of those patients, 155 are being treated in an intensive care unit and 99 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.

The province has completed 6,181,551 tests for COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. There are 56,219 tests currently under investigation.