Ontario has seen its largest 24-hour increase in deaths from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Star’s latest count.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, Ontario’s regional public health units were reporting a total of 269 people had died from the disease, an increase of 35 from the same time Thursday, or a 15.0 per cent jump.

Most of that rise came after Toronto public health announced in a news release that the city’s death toll had increased to 77 from 54 — by far the city’s largest one-day increase.

Of the 23 new deaths, 14 were in long-term care institutions and nine were individuals living in the community, Toronto Public Health spokesperson Lenore Bromley said.

“We are currently investigating further details on this very sad matter and we will share information as quickly as facts are confirmed,” she said. “I am sure you join us as we extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of all individuals who lost their lives from COVID-19 in our community.”

The COVID-19 epidemic has hit especially hard in the province’s long-term care, nursing and retirement homes. Several severe outbreaks causing multiple deaths are ongoing across southern Ontario in cities and small towns alike.

In Toronto, at least 16 residents have died at the Seven Oaks nursing home in Scarborough, with four other deaths under investigation.

Peel Public Health also reported a steep jump in deaths Friday morning, to a total of 15, from 10. A cleaner at Brampton Civic Hospital died Thursday in what is believed to be Ontario’s first death of a health-care worker from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

The Star’s count is based on the public tallies and statements of the regional health units. In total, the units have reported 7,087 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19. That total, up 423 cases or 6.3 per cent, represents slower growth than in recent days.

Earlier Friday, the province initially reported a jump in the number of patients who had been tested for COVID-19 before later correcting that tally downward. The total of 3,975 patients tested in the Friday count was, in fact, a slight decline from the previous day.

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Earlier this week, Premier Doug Ford called low testing rates “absolutely unacceptable” given the province has the built up the capacity to complete around 13,000 tests a day. On Friday, Ford vowed to ramp up testing to 16,000 a day by May 6.

According to the province, 673 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 260 in an intensive care unit. The province also says 2,574 patients have now recovered after testing positive for COVID-19

The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of deaths — 222 — may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in its reporting system.

The Star’s count includes some patients reported as “probable” COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test.

Update – April 11, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to include the province’s updated figures on the number of patients tested for COVID-19 by Friday.