Public Health Ontario is reporting 460 new cases of COVID-19 today, which is the highest daily increase reported in the province since May 8.
Today’s report indicates there were 11,383 tests processed since yesterday’s report.
On May 8, when the province reported 477 new cases, the report indicated there had been 16,295 tests processed in a single day.
The province’s public health agency is also reporting 25 deaths today, including one person between the ages of 40 and 59, nine people between the ages of 60 and 79, and 15 people over the age of 80.
A graph included today's epidemiology report indicates the percent positivity rate (number of tests that come back positive out of total tests completed) is still up over last week. From April 30 to May 16, the present positivity rate was five per cent or lower, since then it has been above five per cent, and peaked at about eight per cent on May 18 (which is about the same rate reported on April 16).
Since yesterday’s report, there have been 331 new recoveries reported.
Anyone whose symptom onset date occurred 14 days ago and who is not hospitalized is considered recovered for the purposes of the daily update. Those people who are reported as recovered may still be experiencing symptoms with varying severity.
The province has recorded 25,500 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. To-date, 19,477 people have recovered (76.4 per cent of the province’s total cases) and 2,073 people have died (8.1 per cent of the total number of cases).
Public Health Ontario reports there have been 1,300 deaths of residents in long-term care homes, and four staff from long-term care homes have died.
The Ministry of Long-Term Care reports 1,525 long-term care residents and six staff have died, and there are 1,948 active cases in residents and 1,392 active cases in staff.
Public Health Ontario numbers typically lag behind those reported by the ministry.
In Northern Ontario, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has the highest number of confirmed cases, with 81. The Porcupine Health Unit, which covers Timmins and the surrounding area, still has the highest rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population among other health units in Northern Ontario. The rate there is 77.9 per 100,000 people.
According to today's report, which includes data from Jan. 15 to May 23, the number of cases at other Northern Ontario health units, as well as the rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population are:
• Algoma Public Health - 20 cases, rate of 17.5 per 100,000 population (Note: Algoma Public Health has reported a 21st case since these numbers were compiled by Public Health Ontario)
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit - 25 cases, rate of 19.3 per 100,000 population
• Porcupine Health Unit - 65, rate of 77.9 per 100,000 population
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts - 62 cases, rate of 31.2 per 100,000 population
• Timiskaming Health Unit - 18 cases, rate of 55.1 per 100,000
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit - 81 cases, rate of 54 per 100,000 population
• Northwestern Health Unit - 22 cases, rate of 25.1 per 100,000 population
According to the report, in Northeastern Ontario, there have been 190 confirmed cases, and the rate is 34 per 100,000 population. In Northwestern Ontario, there have been 103 cases and a rate of 43.3. The provincial rate per 100,000 population is 171.6.