Ontario reports more than 100 new COVID-19 cases for second straight day

At Novavax labs in Rockville, Maryland, Dr. Nita Patel lifts a vial with a potential COVID-19 vaccine. (AFP)

TORONTO — Ontario health officials have recorded more than 100 new cases of COVID-19 for the second straight day.

Health officials confirmed an additional 102 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday after 125 were reported just the day before, which had been highest number since the end of July.

The province also reported that one more person has died due to COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,792.

The new infections bring the province’s total number of lab-confirmed infections to 40,972, including 37,215 recoveries and the deaths.

Of the new patients, the majority were between the ages of 20 and 39. Sixteen new cases were reported in people under the age of 20, while 15 were recorded in those over the age of 60.

There are currently 42 people in the hospital being treated for the disease. Fifteen of those patients are in the intensive care unit and 10 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.

Where are the new COVID-19 cases?

Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said that 30 of the province's 34 public health units have reported five or fewer new cases of the disease on Wednesday, with 17 of them reporting no new cases at all.

On Wednesday, Peel Region and Ottawa reported 18 new cases, Toronto reported 33 new cases and Huron Perth reported 17 new cases.

All regions have now entered Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plan, which included the reopening of gyms, indoor dining at bars and restaurants and many facial services.

Testing for COVID-19 in Ontario

More than 2.6 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Ontario since the virus reached the province in late January.

In the last 24 hours, a little more than 25,000 tests were conducted.

As of 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 15,490 test samples are still under investigation.