Nine deaths reported overnight

Numbers of infections remain steadily low

Ontario’s new cases of COVID-19 are remaining steadily low, but there were nine deaths reported overnight.

There were 118 confirmed cases of coronavirus reported by the government Wednesday morning.

But the nine deaths is an increase from two the day before and zero on Monday. It was the most reported in one day since June 25, when there were 10 deaths.

There are 123 people in hospital with COVID-19 — 35 in intensive care units. Of those, 26 are on ventilators.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Ontario’s regional health units are reporting a total of 38,232 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,740 deaths, an increase of 158 cases since Tuesday evening, according to the Star’s latest count.

Wednesday’s report is somewhat higher because it includes two days’ worth of case data in Toronto.

Starting this week, Toronto Public Health switched to reporting cases only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

As such, the provincewide count of COVID-19 cases reported each day should be expected to be higher than typical on those days, and vice versa.

Before this week, Toronto had seen by far the most infections per day of any Ontario health unit.

The Star’s count includes some patients reported as “probable” COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test.

In a tweet earlier in the day, Health Minister Christine Elliott noted the 118 cases is “largely stable from yesterday’s numbers,” when there were 112 new cases.

The official data says there have been 2,700 deaths, though the Star has determined the actual number is 2,740.

The province has been in a state of emergency since March 17. That’s expected to be extended to July 24 to ensure time to pass sweeping laws to give the government more powers to act without declaring another state of emergency.