Skip to content

Ontario confirms 1,676 new COVID cases, lowest this month

The province has also confirmed 10 deaths and 52 new hospitalizations today
03-18-2020-Covid-19AssessmentCentreJH01
James Hopkin/SooToday

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,676 new cases of COVID-19 today, which is the lowest daily case report in December so far. 

The province has reported 10 deaths today, including four people between the ages of 60 and 79 years old, and six people over the age of 80. Five of the people whose deaths were reported today were residents of long-term care homes.

Since yesterday, 52 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and 11 people have been admitted to intensive care units. 

Of the 1,676 new cases reported today, 588 are from Toronto, 349 are from Peel, and 141 are from York Region. 

Public Health Ontario has also confirmed 333 new school-related cases today, including 278 student cases and 55 staff cases. There are 11 schools in Ontario currently closed because of COVID-19 cases and 853 schools with one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19. 

There are currently 16,151 active, lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario. There are 794 COVID patients hospitalized (up from 725 yesterday), including 219 in intensive care units (up from 213 yesterday) and 132 on ventilators (up from 121 yesterday). 

Since yesterday's update, the province's public health labs have processed 39,198 tests, which produced a five per cent positivity rate. The Ontario government's goal is to have a per cent positivity rate at or below three per cent. 

To date, the province has confirmed 130,910 cases of COVID-19 in Ontario and reported 110,951 recoveries and 3,808 deaths. 

The average cumulative incidence rate in Ontario is 880.7 cases per 100,000 people. The weekly incidence rate is 82.6 cases per 100,000 every seven days. 

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has now confirmed 2,418 cases of COVID-19 in the region with 1,994 of those cases recovered and 53 deaths. There are more than 250 active cases of COVID-19 in Simcoe County. Nine people are hospitalized.

Locally, the cumulative incidence rate for Simcoe County is 438 cases per 100,000 people.

Case breakdown from Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit by municipality for Simcoe County as of Dec. 7

Municipality Total cases** Recoveries Deaths In Hospital Last case reported Incidence rate*
Barrie  746 596 15 7 Dec. 7 500
Bradford W-G  396 343 13 1 Dec. 7 922
New Tecumseth  389 334 12 1 Dec. 7 939
Innisfil 216 184 1 1 Dec. 7 530
Orillia 53 30 3   Dec. 7 158
Collingwood 36 28     Dec. 7 150
Wasaga Beach 43 33 1   Dec. 7 187
Clearview 44 36 1   Dec. 7 298
Springwater 60 39 1   Dec. 7 286
Midland 24 16     Dec. 7 134
Oro-Medonte 42 28 2   Dec. 7 180
Adjala-Tosorontio 41 39     Dec. 7 352
Essa 118 100 1 1 Dec. 7 493
Ramara 23 18     Dec. 7 222
Tiny 19 18     Dec 4 145
Tay 30 27 1   Dec. 7 271
Penetanguishene 20 18 1   Dec. 2 206
Severn 16 13     Dec. 3 107
Georgian Bay 9 9     Nov. 24 319

*Incidence rate is number of cases per 100,000 people in the local population.

**Total cases includes the number of cases currently recovering at home as well as any that have recovered, died, or are in hospital


Reader Feedback

Erika Engel

About the Author: Erika Engel

Erika regularly covers all things news in Collingwood as a reporter and editor. She has 15 years of experience as a local journalist
Read more