Ontario is reporting 805 new cases of COVID-19 today and 10 new deaths related to the virus.
The figures come as another Toronto-area public health unit imposes tighter restrictions on local long-term care homes.
The new ban on all but essential visitors and caregivers went into effect in York Region amid what Health Minister Christine Elliott calls an “alarming upward trend” in COVID-19 cases there.
The government issued a statement saying the only visitors now allowed at the facilities in the region north of Toronto are those deemed essential.
Effective Monday, and until further notice, long-term care home residents are also not allowed to have short-term and temporary absences for social or personal reasons.
Elliott says 93 of the latest cases are in York Region, with 374 recorded in Toronto, 107 in Peel Region and 70 in Ottawa.
The province announced yesterday that York Region is joining the other three COVID-19 hot spots in moving back to a modified Stage 2 of pandemic protocol starting Monday.
The modified Stage 2 comes amid rising cases and includes the closure of gyms and movie theatres, and a ban on indoor dining in restaurants or bars.
Ontario now has a total of 63,713 cases of COVID-19, including 54,686 that are considered resolved and 3,041 deaths.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2020.
The Canadian Press
