Ontario to extend state of emergency, despite ‘glimmer of light’ in numbers: Ford
April 13, 2020
By
The Canadian Press
Province's supply of personal protective equipment now in better state
By Allison Jones
TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford says the Ontario legislature will sit Tuesday to extend a state of emergency by another 28 days.
Ford says while there is a “glimmer of light” from some encouraging figures on the province’s fight against COVID-19, it is too early to start lifting any restrictions.
Ontario is reporting 421 new COVID-19 cases today and 17 new deaths.
That brings the province to a total of 7,470 cases, including 291 deaths and 3,357 cases that have been resolved.
It’s an increase of six per cent over Sunday’s total, continuing a relatively low growth rate over the past several days.
Ford also says the province’s supply of personal protective equipment is much better now than when he recently warned it was in danger of running out. He says the province has acquired more surgical masks, N95 masks and ventilators.
Ford has expressed frustration that Ontario has been testing for COVID-19 well below its capacity of 13,000 tests per day.
The province has said it will do 8,000 tests daily by Wednesday, but just over 5,000 were completed in the last 24 hours.
Outbreaks in long-term care homes
Meanwhile, there have been at least 89 COVID-19 outbreaks reported in long-term care homes across the province, with 741 residents and 430 staff members infected.
At least 120 residents have died in those outbreaks, or 41 per cent of all of the deaths in the province.
Some of the hardest-hit facilities include Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, where 29 residents have died, Seven Oaks in Toronto, where 22 residents have died, Almonte Country Haven outside Ottawa, where 14 residents have died, and Anson Place in Hagersville in southwestern Ontario, where 13 residents have died.
Provincewide, the number of patients in hospital — 760 — rose slightly Monday, but rates of patients in intensive care and on ventilators remained relatively stable.
More than 800 health-care workers have tested positive for COVID-19, about 11 per cent of the total number of cases.
