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Ontario reports 441 new cases of COVID-19 today

The percentage of postive results has increased over the past few days as testing numbers have decreased
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Public Health Ontario has reported 441 new cases of COVID-19 today, which is an increase of 1.8 per cent in the province’s total cases confirmed since the start of the pandemic. 

The provincial update also reports 28 more deaths attributed to the coronavirus. 

Those deaths include one person between the ages of 40 and 59, four people between the ages of 60 and 79, and 23 people over the age of 80. 

The daily epidemiology update also indicates 258 more people are now considered recovered from COVID-19. 

However, the report states 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. 

There have been a total of 24,628 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in ONtario, with 18,767 of those (76.2 per cent) reported as recovered. Public Health Ontario reports 2,021 people have died as a result of the virus. 

Of the cases reported by the province’s public health agency, 4,711 people who have tested positive have been long-term care residents, and 1,623 have been health care workers associated with long-term care outbreaks. Public Health Ontario reports there have been 1,262 deaths of long-term care residents from COVID-19 and four staff have died from the coronavirus.

The Ministry of Long-Term Care daily report states there are now 171 outbreaks in long-term care homes, with 2,252 active cases of COVID-19 in residents and 1,523 active cases in long-term care staff. The ministry reports 1,486 long-term care residents and six staff have died from COVID-19. The ministry’s report includes information reported directly by long-term care homes. Public Health Ontario’s daily report includes information reported by regional health units, and tends to lag behind what is reported by the ministry. 

Public Health Ontario is also reporting ongoing outbreaks at 79 retirement homes and 54 hospitals. 

The May 22 report, which includes data reported to Public Health Ontario as of 4 p.m. on May 21, states there were 11,276 test processed on May 20 with 5,516 tests awaiting results. 

A graph included in the province’s daily update shows an increase in percent positivity, which is the percentage of all tests processed that indicate a positive result. From about May 8 to May 15, the percentage of positive results compared to tests processed was less than five per cent. Over the last couple days it has hovered around six to eight per cent.

Locally, it's been 11 days since the Porcupine Health Unit reported a positive test for the virus. 

However, the number of tests being done this week has dropped. 

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 21, 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

• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit - 24 cases, rate of 18.5 per 100,000 population

• Porcupine Health Unit - 65, rate of 77.9 per 100,000 population

• Public Health Sudbury and Districts - 63 cases, rate of 31.7 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 165.7.


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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
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