Ontario reaches new high in daily COVID-19 cases

Another day, another daily record for COVID-19 cases in Ontario.

The province on Sunday reported 1,328 new cases of COVID-19, including 71 in Ottawa.

As of Sunday morning, provincial data had Ottawa Public Health reporting 595 active cases in the city.

The number of deaths in Ottawa related to COVID-19 was 341, an increase of two compared to the statistics reported Saturday.

An additional 13 COVID-19-related deaths were reported across Ontario on Sunday, bringing the total number to 3,233 since Jan. 15.

The provincial data on testing showed a notable increase in the rate of COVID-19 tests coming back positive.

Of the 37,577 tests processed Sunday, 4.2 per cent were positive for COVID-19. There hadn't been a daily positive rate over four per cent since May.

As for other health units in Ontario on Sunday, 434 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Toronto, 385 in Peel Region and 105 in York Region.

In hospitalizations related to COVID-19, the province reported 10 fewer cases compared to the previous day, with 374 patients in hospital Sunday.

Provincial operating restrictions on Ottawa businesses relaxed on Saturday, with restaurants allowed to restart indoor dining and gyms able to welcome back clients. There still are capacity limits set by the province.

Despite the loosened restrictions for indoor dining, residents were jockeying for space on restaurant patios with unusually warm November weather sweeping

through Ottawa.

Environment Canada was predicting daily temperatures hitting 20 C through Tuesday.