Ontario has reported 100 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 this morning, making this the first daily report in the triple digits.
There is one case in a 20-something male from Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit. The health unit has not yet confirmed in what community the man lives. The health unit is doing a live Facebook update today at 1 p.m.
The province is also reporting another death this morning, bringing the Ontario COVID-19-related death toll related to nine people. The most recent to die was an 84-year-old Niagara man who died Tuesday, March 24, after being hospitalized for COVID-19.
There were two deaths reported yesterday, both in nursing homes.
As of today, there are 688 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, with eight recorded recoveries. Currently, to be counted as recovered, an individual with COVID-19 needs to have two negative test results from tests taken 24-hours apart.
Yesterday, SMDHU confirmed there are 14 lab-confirmed cases in the region. For two of those cases, the health unit did not provide any further information, and they are not included on the health unit website yet. It is not clear whether the 20-something male reported on the province’s list today was included in the 14 cases already reported by the health unit.
On today's provincial list, there were 22 cases attributed to travel and 19 to close contact. The rest of the 100 cases did not include transmission information.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam told reporters yesterday there is a “fundamental shift” in the transmission of the disease in the nation.
Transmission by travel and within the community are now equal based on COVID-19 confirmed lab tests for Canada.
In Simcoe Muskoka there have been at least seven cases linked to travel and another five linked to close contact or community-acquired. Dr. Charles Gardner, the health unit's chief medical officer, said community spread is happening across the region.
The transmission method for the 20-something male is not listed in the province’s list. He is recovering at home.
