Ontario logged 1,794 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, down from 1,890 cases on Friday. The province also reported 20 additional deaths.
As of 8 p.m. on Friday, 7,925,277 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, according to Health Minister Christine Elliott. The seven-day average for cases now stands at 1,951, which is the lowest it has been since March 28.
The new cases include 416 in Toronto, 355 in Peel Region, 140 in York Region and 147 in Durham. The new case count comes as Ontario eases some restrictions with less than two weeks to go before a provincewide stay-at-home order expires on June 2.
As of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, people can now go golfing, play in tennis courts, skate parks and various other outdoor athletic fields. They are still not allowed to participate in organized outdoor sports and classes. People can, however, seek a reprieve from the heat at splash pads.
Families who haven’t been able to visit loved ones in long-term care facilities for more than a year have also received the green light for outdoor visits. They are now able to visit outdoors in groups, although some say that’s not enough.
Ontario hits new vaccination milestone
Ontario expects to have vaccinated at least 60 per cent of adults by the middle of June, at which point the province will begin the first of its three-stage reopening plan.
That timeline could accelerate, however, as the rate of vaccination picks up. According to Premier Doug Ford, the province hit a new milestone on Friday, delivering more than 190,000 doses of vaccine in one day.
The province is also opening up vaccine eligibility to kids. As of 8 a.m. on Sunday, anyone aged 12 or older is vaccine eligible and will be able to book through the provincial booking centre and at select pharmacies for a Pfizer vaccine.
Pfizer is the only vaccine approved so far by Health Canada for young people. Some have already been receiving vaccinations at pop-ups and larger clinics.
