COVID-19

INFORMATION & RESOURCES

COVID-19 Numbers as of 3:00 P.M. on Friday, October 9th, 2020

Globally: 36,995,224 cases (+2,436,999); 1,069,937 deaths (+41,098); 25,805,879 recovered
US: 7,869,115 (+367,929); 218,228 deaths (+5,498); 5,047,519 recovered
India: 6,964,074 cases (+564,745), 107,142 (+7,305); 5,966,938 recovered
Brazil: 5,035,744 cases (+186,515), 149,189 deaths (+4,442); 4,414,564 recovered
Canada: 175,559 cases (+26,465), 9,557 deaths (+308); 147,508 recovered
Ontario: 57,681 cases (+5,433); 2,851 deaths (+146); 49,032 recovered

Press Conference Highlights: October 5th to 9th, 2020

This week Canada reported the highest daily numbers of COVID-19 cases ever.

In Ontario, there was a record number of 939 cases reported on October 9th.
The number of COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization, including intensive care, has increased.
Most new cases in Ontario continue to be concentrated in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area.
Continue practicing Public Health measures: hand hygiene, physical distancing, and wearing masks.
As Ontario no longer allows social circles, so Thanksgiving safest gatherings should be limited to those in your household.

Canada wide updates:

There have been 175,559 cases to date in Canada. Labs across Canada tested over 71,000 daily last week, with a 2.5% positivity rate. The national daily case count has doubled since September 22nd, with over 2,000 new cases reported daily this week.
The highest incidence of cases continues to be reported in those aged 20-39, but we are now seeing a concerning rise in cases for those aged 80 years and older, including in long term care homes.
To get the pandemic back under control, contact with others must be limited through individual actions (physical distancing) and strategic widespread actions (i.e., business closures).

$100 million in additional funding is being provided to local and regional organizations through the Canada Emergency Food Security Fund. This doubles the original $100 million investment earlier this year. Indigenous organizations serving vulnerable populations are eligible.
Health Canada has approved the Panbio COVID-19 antigen test from Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, which is a point-of-care test that provides test results in about 20 minutes. The federal government has purchased at least 20.5 million tests and is working to procure more as they become approved to supplement the existing testing regime. These will be useful in supporting testing capacity in remote communities.
There has been an alarming rise in COVID-19 in First Nation communities across Canada. There are over 100 active cases of COVID-19 on reserve, including an increase of 32 cases since October 4th.
While the COVID-19 rate on reserve is much lower than in urban settings, these rises are still concerning. Testing, tracking, and tracing is key to stopping the spread of COVID-19, and the federal government is committed to supporting First Nation leaders to combat the pandemic.
In addition to the COVID-19 update, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada announced an emergency meeting with Indigenous leaders to discuss systemic racism in healthcare following the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan.
Applications for Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (up to $500 per week) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (up to $450 per week, per household) are now open. These benefits are intended to support Canadians who are sick with COVID-19 or who must care for a family member with COVID-19, but do not have support from their employer.
Applications to the Canada Recovery Benefit (up to $1000 per two week period) is will be available next week for Canadians who are not eligible for EI.
Additional, targeted, limited term support was announced for businesses who cannot operate as normal due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed on them:
- Commercial Emergency Rent Subsidy: available until June 2021, this new benefit will replace the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance and cover up to 65% of rent costs to businesses that have lost 70% of their income or more.
- Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: this existing subsidy will be extended through June 2021. The available rate available will be increased to 65% until December 2020.
- Canada Emergency Business Account: enhancements have made it possible for eligible businesses to obtain a loan of up to $20,000, half of which is forgivable.

Ontario specific updates:

Masks/face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces across Ontario
Ontario surpassed 4 million total tests completed this week, with an average of 35,000 to 40,000 completed each day. Ontario continues to lead the country in testing.
The rate of test positivity is now 2.5% province wide, with some communities reporting a test positivity rate of 10%; there has been a 250% increase in hospital and ICU admissions this week.

Across all of Ontario, everyone is being asked to limit trips outside the home to essentials only, and only socialize within your household.
New restrictions have been imposed in hotspot regions as of October 10th for 28 days:
- In Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel region restaurants and bars will be closed for indoor dining.
- Additional closures in these jurisdictions include: indoor gyms and fitness centres (i.e., exercise classes and weight and exercise rooms); casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; indoor cinemas; performing arts centres and venues; spectator areas in racing venues; interactive exhibits or exhibits with high risk of personal contact in museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, and landmarks.
- Personal care services where face coverings must be removed for the service (e.g. makeup application, beard trimming) are also prohibited in Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel region.
$300 million will be available to support small businesses in hotspots over the next 28 days through the forced closures.
The Ontario government is investing $176 million to help expand access to critical mental health and addictions supports during COVID-19. This funding is part of the province's investment of $3.8 billion over 10 years.
New regional restrictions for long term care homes in Ottawa, Toronto and Peel region restrict visitors to essential caregivers only until further notice.
An additional $35 million is being invested in immediate school board supports to keep students safe in COVID-19 hotspots: Peel, Ottawa, Toronto and York Region.

Daily New COVID-19 Cases in Ontario this Week

# of New cases

October 5: 615

October 6: 548

October 7: 583

October 8: 797

October 9: 939

COVID-19 Related Provincial Press Releases October 5th to 9th, 2020

Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health Measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region October 9, 2020 Additional Backgrounder Available Here

Ontario Hires Health System Leader as Education Health Advisor October 8, 2020

Unity Health Toronto and Norwood Nursing Home enter into Management Agreement October 7, 2020

Ontario Building a Modern, Connected and Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions System October 7, 2020

Ontario Supports Small Main Street Businesses with $60 Million in Funding through PPE Grant October 7, 2020

Ontario Increases Mental Health Funding for Postsecondary Students October 6, 2020

Ontario Surpasses Four Million COVID-19 Tests October 6, 2020

New COVID-19 Precautions at Long-Term Care Homes October 5, 2020

Ontario Releases $35 Million to Hire More Staff, Improve Remote Learning in Targeted Communities

[1] Increases in case, death, and recovery counts are calculated from the previous briefing note to the current briefing note. As such, these numbers reflect weekly increases since the week of September 28th to October 2nd

[2]https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/