COVID-19: Ontario reports 1,707 new cases; the potential vaccine delays the opportunity to prepare, says Hillier

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“Working with these industry leaders, our federal and provincial partners and the experts from our task force, led by General Hillier, I am confident that we will have one of the best implementation plans in the country,” Elliott said.

Ontario reported 1,707 new cases of COVID-19 and seven other deaths on Tuesday.

The new total of cases includes a record of 727 new COVID-19 cases in Toronto, 373 in Peel, 168 in the York region and 34 in Ottawa.

“The spread of COVID-19 has reached a tipping point,” Elliott tweeted Tuesday morning, after announcing the case’s daily total. “We need everyone to do their part and follow public health advice.”

Over the past five days, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported daily by the province has fluctuated between 1,700 and 1,800 on average.

There are now 645 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario (up from 618 on Monday), including 185 people in intensive care, with 112 on ventilation.

Ontario health director Dr. David Williams said Monday that the province is starting to see the cancellation or postponement of some surgeries or hospital procedures, especially in Peel and parts of Toronto, due to the need of ICU beds among COVID-19 patients.

In the regions of public health units surrounding Ottawa, the total number of people who have had a confirmed COVID-19 case increased by seven in Eastern Ontario, by six in Hastings Prince Edward, by two in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. and one in Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington.