Ontario reports most new COVID-19 cases on any single day in 3 weeks

#Ontario,#RiseInCovid19; #FordWanrsYoungPeople

Mississauga, Jul 21 (Canadian-Media): Ontario Premier Doug Ford in his July 21 COVID-19 briefing in Mississauga said  203 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ontario on that day, the most on any single day in about three weeks. 

Doug Ford. Image credit: Twitter handle

Ford was joined by Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario Minister of Long-term Care, Michelle DiEmanuele, President & CEO of Trillium Health Partners, and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie.

​In a series of tweets this morning, Health Minister Christine Elliott had attributed today's rise in COVID-19 infections to localized increases,  namely in Peel, Ottawa and Windsor-Essex. The three regions each confirmed 57, 43 and 24 new cases, respectively. ​

Ontario is reporting 203 cases of #COVID19, a 0.5% increase. Today's uptick is the result of localized increases: there are 43 of new cases in Ottawa, 57 in Peel and 24 more in Windsor-Essex. Looking at the age of today's new cases, 116 of them or 57% are 39 years old or younger.

— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) July 21, 2020

It was noted by Elliott that people 39 years old or younger accounted for 57 percent of today's newly confirmed infections of the novel coronavirus. 

"While one day of data, today's increase is concerning," Elliott wrote.

"Ontarians of all ages need to continue to adhere to public health guidelines: maintain only one social circle of 10 people, physically distance with anyone outside of it and wear a face covering when doing so is a challenge."

While one day of data, today’s increase is concerning. Ontarians of all ages need to continue to adhere to public health guidelines: maintain only one social circle of 10 people, physically distance with anyone outside of it and wear a face covering when doing so is a challenge.

— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) July 21, 2020

Ford, in his daily briefings said that he was concerned that people 39 years old or younger accounted for 57 percent of today's newly confirmed infections of the novel coronavirus.

Ford said he has a message for the young people, "Don't go to the parties. Simple. It might not be you but it's going to be your parents, your grandparents, or your neighbours or your friends, your relatives. You are hurting people by doing this. Wear masks and if you don't have a mask, keep at least 6 feet or 2 meters of distance. Practice social distancing, continue to sanitize your hands. I just ask people to keep away from these parties. We have to keep this in control."

Of the total of 37,942 cases of COVID-19 in Ontario since the outbreak began in late January,  about 88.6 percent have been resolved. 

Ontario has seen a sudden rise this week of about 1,584 active cases, after several weeks of steady decline.

The jump in new daily cases occurs just one day after Ford's announcement that another seven public health units would be moving into Stage 3 of the province's reopening plan on Friday.

Only Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex will remain in Stage 2 after Friday, July 24.