Ontario is reporting 583 new cases of COVID-19 today, and one new death due to the virus.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says 173 cases are in Toronto, 121 in Ottawa, 75 in York Region, and 70 in Peel Region.
Elliott says 60 per cent of today’s cases are in people under the age of 40.
The province says it has a backlog of 55,413 tests, and has conducted 43,277 tests since the last daily report.
In total, 195 people are hospitalized in Ontario due to COVID-19, including 43 in intensive care.
The latest figures bring the total of COVID-19 cases in Ontario to 55,945, with 2,988 deaths, and 47,613 cases resolved.
Meanwhile, Ontario will make a pandemic measure that allowed restaurants and bars to deliver alcohol permanent.
Associate Minister of Small Business Prabmeet Sarkaria said the government is exploring ways to change laws surrounding the delivery of alcohol before they expire at the end of the year.
The change is part of new legislation which will be introduced later Wednesday to help small businesses which have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sarkaria said the bill will also make temporary measures which allowed 24-hour delivery to pharmacies and grocery stores permanent.
The government said it will provide grants of up to $1,000 for small businesses to buy personal protective equipment.
The grants will be available to businesses with less than 10 employees and can also be used to make pandemic-related safety changes such as installing Plexiglas barriers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2020.
The Canadian Press
