

Chris Fox, CP24.com





Ontario has confirmed 260 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number province-wide to 1,966.

It is the second highest jump in cases since the province began releasing the numbers but is down from the record 351 cases confirmed on Monday.

The total number of fatalities in the province remains unchanged at 33, though it is likely to rise tomorrow after officials at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon confirmed another three deaths at their facility.

Encouragingly, the province appears to be cutting into the backlog of tests that had built up in recent weeks. That number neared 11,000 as recently as March 25 but is now down to 4,280.

Ontario-wide 51,629 people have now been tested for COVID-19, though that number would equate to a testing rate that is lower than in other provinces. Quebec, for example, has tested more than 65,000 people despite being roughly half Ontario’s size.

While no details have been released about the location of the new cases, the Ministry of Health has said that 59.1 per cent of all cases are in Greater Toronto Area health units. That is down from 61.4 per cent of all cases on Monday.

Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday that 291 patients infected with the virus are currently in hospital.

Yaffe said 125 of those patients are in intensive care and 82 are on ventilators.

She noted that while the information that the province has is somewhat "out of date," local health units have reported 33 deaths to the province. Of those 33 deaths, Yaffe said 11 were residents of long-term care homes.

"The numbers are fluid. It is a fluid situation," she added.