Ontario reports 944 new COVID-19 cases, highest daily number since end of May

Ontario reported 944 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the highest recorded daily number since the end of May.

Of the 859 cases with a known vaccination status, there are:

• 559, or 65 per cent, were in unvaccinated people.
• 92, or 10.7 per cent, had a single dose.
• 208, or 24.2 per cent, had two doses.

The new cases include 181 in Toronto, 118 in Peel Region, 113 in Windsor, 112 in York Region, 92 in Hamilton, 29 in Ottawa, 35 in Niagara Region and 28 in Durham Region.

Last Saturday, Ontario recorded 835 further infections from roughly the same number of tests.

According to the province's COVID-19 science advisory table, the doubling time for cases has extended to 32 days, up from just eight days in early August.

As of Friday, there were 309 people with COVID-19 in hospital in Ontario. Of those, 172 were being treated for COVID-related critical illnesses in intensive care.

The Ontario health ministry also reported the deaths of 9 more people with COVID-19. However, it says that, due to a "data clean-up," five of the nine deaths occurred more than two months ago.

Here are some other key pandemic indicators and figures from the Ministry of Health's daily provincial update:

Seven-day rolling average of daily cases: 747.

Tests in the last 24 hours: 26,259, with a provincewide positivity rate of 3.5 per cent.

Active cases: 6,301.

Death toll: 9,536.

Vaccinations: 45,866 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered by public health units on Friday. About 76.9 per cent of eligible Ontarians, or those aged 12 and older, have now had two doses. Ontario has now surpassed 10 million full vaccinations, a number that represents 67.8 per cent of the province's total population.

York Region introduces contact tracing requirements

Meanwhile, a frequent COVID-19 hot spot north of Toronto has implemented new contact tracing requirements on those hosting social gatherings at home or work.

As of Saturday, York Region residents holding get-togethers must keep a list of names and contact information of all guests. If public health authorities request those details for contact tracing purposes, hosts are required to provide them within 24 hours.

The new order sanctioned by regional Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karim Kurji also states that hosts must also provide any other information requested about the gathering and ensure all provincial and local regulations are met.

"These additional measures are intended to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, facilitate timely contact tracing measures and further help to control and manage cases and outbreaks of COVID-19," York Region Public Health said in a statement.

Failure to comply could result in charges under the Health Protection and Promotion Act and fines of up to $5,000 for every day the offence occurs.