Ontario reports an additional 2,408 COVID-19 cases and another 41 deaths

Ontario recorded its second-highest number of daily COVID-19 cases Wednesday since the start of the pandemic and as the province gets ready for a lockdown.

Testing confirmed 2,408 new cases — 887 were aged 20 to 39 years old — and 41 more lives were lost.

“Locally, there are 629 new cases in Toronto, 448 in Peel, 234 in Windsor-essex County, 190 in York Region and 150 in Hamilton,” Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted.

Ottawa, chafing under a looming lockdown order after bringing its COVID-19 numbers down, reported 56 new cases Wednesday, up from 19 the previous day.

Halton Region confirmed another 88 cases, Niagara Region 76 and Waterloo 80.

Hospital data revealed 1,002 patients with COVID-19, 275 in intensive care and 186 on ventilators.

Any number of ICU patients above 150 begins to impact other hospital services including elective surgeries, public health officials say.

Ontario has reported more than 2,100 daily new cases of COVID-19 for nine days straight.

Premier Doug Ford and his government ordered the entire province into the grey or lockdown zone effective Boxing Day.

Health Canada on Wednesday approved the Moderna vaccine, which Ontario officials have said will be targeted initially for residents of long-term care who cannot access the Pfizer vaccine due to requirements for deep freeze and limited movement.

“This is another great step forward in our fight against #COVID19! As we continue with our #Covid19vaccine rollout, the Moderna vaccine will support our efforts to bring the vaccine directly to our most vulnerable and those who care for them,” Elliott tweeted.