Premier Doug Ford announced that tighter restrictions on social gatherings that were made in high-risk areas last week, have now been mandated in all regions in the province, as Ontario reports 407 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.
Starting immediately, a limit of 10 people may congregate indoors, and 25 may get together outdoors, Ford announced at a news conference at Queen’s Park.
The premier also said those who break these rules risk facing a minimum fine of $10,000 for the organizers and a $750 fine for guests.
This comes as the province tries to curb the “alarming” growth of COVID-19 cases by limiting large gatherings — what health officials say are significantly contributing to the surge.
“We can’t have these wild parties right now. It’s just way, way too risky,” Ford said.
407 new cases on Saturday
Meanwhile, Ontario reported 407 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the highest daily case count since June 7.
It’s also the second day in a row the province has recorded more than 400 new cases of the novel coronavirus since that same date.
A majority of the daily case count is concentrated in three public health units: Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa. They recorded 129, 94, and 55 cases, respectively, Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a series of tweets.
Seventy-one per cent of Saturday’s cases were found in people under 40, she said.
Here’s the age and gender breakdown of the 407 new cases in Ontario today <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/covid19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#covid19</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/onpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#onpoli</a> <a href=”https://t.co/rcmUmCt0Zp”>pic.twitter.com/rcmUmCt0Zp</a>
—@CBCLorenda
The uptick represents a 0.9 per cent increase in cases, bringing the provincial total since the pandemic began to 46,484.
Of these cases, nearly 88 per cent are considered resolved, with 177 cases reported resolved Saturday.
The province processed a record number of tests on Friday of the virus, reporting 38,940.
“In response to growing demand for testing, Ontario Health has increased capacity at eight assessment centres across Toronto, Peel and Ottawa with seven pop-ups launched in the regions and more coming to help increase access and cut down wait times,” Elliott said in a tweet on Saturday.
Elliott also said there has been a small increase in hospitalizations to 64 cases, as intensive care unit admissions and the number of patients on ventilators remain stable, reporting 20 and 10 cases, respectively.
The province has reported one new death from the virus, bringing the total death toll to 2,826. A CBC analysis of local public health units, which is more up to date than the provincial figures, had the real total at 2,865 deaths as of Saturday morning.
In response to growing demand for testing, Ontario Health has increased capacity at eight assessment centres across Toronto, Peel and Ottawa with seven pop-ups launched in the regions and more coming to help increase access and cut down wait times.
—@celliottability
