Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is extending its state of emergency to May 4 as the number of coronavirus cases is expected to peak this week.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that, even with some promising signs in the province’s COVID-19 fight, it is too early to start lifting restrictions. Non-essential businesses, childcare centres and schools will remain closed until at least May 4.
At the same time, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, said modelers are predicting that Ontario’s coronavirus curve will climb this week, assuming all current restrictions continue. Ontario reported a 6% increase in new cases Monday, continuing a relatively low growth rate over the past several days.
“We’re seeing a glimmer, a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel here,” said Ford. “But what happens if we do that and all of a sudden this comes back and bites us in the backside and just comes back with vengeance or another wave comes through?”
Ontario reported 421 new coronavirus cases on Monday 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. Among the coronavirus cases, 41% of the deaths in the province have occurred at long-term care facilities.
Ford said it will do 8,000 tests daily by Wednesday. Province-wide, the number of patients in hospital with coronavirus stood at 760, with rates of patients in intensive care and on ventilators relatively stable, said Ford.