Ontario is reporting 100 more COVID-19 cases today, bringing the provincial total to 688.

That’s the largest single-day spike in cases. The spike also saw five new deaths reported bringing the total to 13. Three of the deaths were reported in Toronto

“We are aware currently of 40 cases of COVID-19 who are hospitalized in Ontario,” Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, said Wednesday afternoon. “Seventeen of those are intensive care, and 15 are on ventilators.”

“We are working extremely hard to get more supplies and I believe we’ve recently secured an additional 300 more ventilators,” she added.

Provincial health officials have said that increasing numbers of new cases in this period are expected, as so many Canadians return from abroad.

Over 10,000 who have been tested are still awaiting results.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, stressed the importance of social distancing and self-isolation.

“Can we beat this? I think in Ontario we can beat this,” he said optimistically. “But it won’t be without the full dedication of our citizens.”

The province has ordered all non-essential workplaces to close to try and stem the spread of the virus, and on Tuesday Premier Doug Ford also announced hydro rate cuts effective immediately.