Ontario reports 827 new COVID-19 cases, testing levels drop to roughly half of capacity

Ontario reported 827 more cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, while the province's labs processed fewer than 24,000 tests — about half of their daily capacity.

Of the new cases, Toronto saw 355 new cases, while Peel Region recorded 169 and York Region 89.

Meanwhile, the seven-day average of new daily cases, a measure that limits noise in the data and provides a clearer picture of longer-term trends, increased slightly up to about 879, another record high. Compared to the previous five days, the rate of increase slowed considerably.

The province is also reporting 691 more resolved cases, and an additional four deaths, bringing the total death toll to 3,103.

Also Tuesday, the Toronto Catholic District School Board reported 10 classes at St. André Catholic School in North York are self-isolating, eight of which are due to one infected staff member.

The new case numbers come after a record-breaking weekend and seven-day average, which health officials said was partially to blame on Thanksgiving and other large gatherings.

As for testing levels, Ontario currently has laboratory capacity for about 45,000 tests daily. Fewer than 30,000 tests were completed on each of the last two days.

The province recently moved to limit tests for asymptomatic people, reserving them instead for those with symptoms or who had exposure to someone with a confirmed case.

A Ministry of Health official told CBC News that since testing is demand driven, the numbers typically dip earlier in the week with fewer people booking appointments to be tested on the weekend.

Asked about testing levels at a news conference Tuesday, Premier Doug Ford maintained Ontario continues to lead the country in testing, with nearly five million tests completed.

Health Minister Christine Elliott added that the province has identified areas in Toronto and Peel Region for mobile or pop-up testing but provided no specific details about when and where that may happen.

Hospitalizations climb

The relatively low number of tests has pushed the province-wide positivity rate to about 3.45 per cent, also a new high.

Provincial health officials have previously said that a 2.5 per cent positivity rate is reason for serious concern.

Meanwhile, the number of people in Ontario hospitals with confirmed cases of COVID-19 climbed above 300 for the first time during the resurgence of the illness that began in early August and continues today. More than 1,000 were hospitalized during the first wave of the pandemic in the spring.

Of 312 people currently in hospital, 75 are being treated in intensive care and 52 are on ventilators.

On Tuesday, Ford announced an investment of $116 million to increase hospital capacity by 766 beds across the province. The new beds are in addition to the 139 critical care beds and up to 1,349 hospital beds announced as part of the province's fall preparedness plan, Elliott said.

"We are taking another step today to keep that promise by adding hundreds more hospital beds across the province. This will not only ensure we are ready for any surges in COVID-19 cases, but provide patients with the care they need and deserve close to home," Ford said in a news release.

The move isn't necessarily specific to COVID-19, however. In 2018, the Ford government announced an extra $90 million for hospital surge capacity to help cope with flu season. They year before, the then-Liberal government announced a boost of $100 million.

Ford was also asked again Tuesday about MPP Sam Oosterhoff, who has apologized after photos posted online showed him at recent gathering of about 40 people, who squeezed in to take a picture together without masks on.

WATCH | 'We all make mistakes,' Ford says after MPP Oosterhoff pictured at gathering without masks:

The Niagara West MPP faced widespread backlash online after the incident, with the CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association calling for his resignation.

In response, Oosterhoff said Monday there were fewer than the allowable limit of 50 people in attendance, but that, "I should have worn a mask when we took a quick [picture], given the proximity of everyone..."

Ford said he has accepted Oosterhoff's apology.

"MPP Oosterhoff apologized, he said it's not going to happen again, and I accept that," he said. "Everyone makes mistakes, he apologized, he's not going to do it again."

Experts and officials have been warning about so-called "pandemic fatigue" for months, in which people who are sick of following the rules embrace riskier behaviour in order to see friends and family or do beloved activities.

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital, told CBC on Tuesday that with a long winter ahead, it remains a major concern.

What's needed, he said, is "messaging of how you can create safer spaces so people can do the things that they like to do, stay physically active, connect with others, enjoy themselves."

North York General Hospital outbreak

Another Toronto hospital has declared a COVID-19 outbreak after two staff members in its surgical program tested positive for the virus.

North York General Hospital says both cases appear to be linked, and it will postpone non-emergency surgeries for the time being to limit the risk of infection.

The hospital says there are no patient cases connected to the outbreak so far.

Several other hospitals have been dealing with outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, which are generally defined as at least two health-care-related cases within a 14-day period.

Ontario long-term care commission will grant workers anonymity

Nurses and personal support workers can now be granted anonymity when testifying for a commission examining Ontario's response to COVID-19 in long-term care homes.

Long-term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton says the government has changed the terms of reference for the independent inquiry to ensure the workers don't fear reprisal from their employers.

Opposition critics called the move a good start, saying whistle-blower protections should be strengthened across the sector.

The commission is investigating how the novel coronavirus spread in the long-term care system and will submit its final report on April 30, 2021.

In interim recommendations issued late last week, the commission said the province must address critical staffing shortages at long-term care homes as the second wave of the pandemic intensifies.

The province says there are currently 88 long-term care homes experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks.

Toronto Western sends new COVID-19 patients to another hospital

Toronto Western Hospital is now sending new COVID-19 patients to another hospital while it moves its current COVID-19 unit to another floor.

The unit, known as 8A, and another one nearby, 8B, are dealing with an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Three patients and seven staff members have tested positive.

Alexa Giorgi, spokesperson for the University Health Network, said people with COVID-19 admitted through the emergency department at Toronto Western will be cared for at the COVID-19 unit at Toronto General Hospital temporarily.

Toronto Western will take patients who need admission because of COVID-19 within the next 10 days, she said.

Giorgi said the hospital has taken the following measures to deal with the outbreak:

• Units 8A and 8B have been closed to new admissions and new patients with COVID-19 who go to Toronto Western are being diverted to Toronto General's COVID-19 unit.

• The units are undergoing cleaning and there is enhanced cleaning of common spaces and the locker room.

• The number of housekeeping staff in 8A has been increased for daily enhanced cleaning.

• All staff in 8A and 8B are being tested regularly and there is contact tracing and isolation where appropriate.

• Patients in 8B are being tested regularly and there is contact tracing and isolation where appropriate.

• The hospital is implementing "stricter cohorting of shared staff."

• An environmental assessment and a review of measures in place to encourage physical distancing has been done.

• There are "daily interdisciplinary outbreak management team" meetings to ease internal communications and organize action plans.

"Management is continuing to closely monitor this situation as it develops," Giorgi said.