Coronavirus Canada Updates: More than 2,000 Alberta health-care workers have received their first COVID-19 shot
As well, 119 more cases are now considered resolved by health officials, pushing the number of COVID-19 recoveries in the province to 38,625.
The last time new daily case numbers in Ontario were below the 100 mark was on August 26 when 88 new infections were reported.
There are currently 1,249 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
Most of the new cases added on Thursday were reported in people between the ages of 40 and 59. The 42 new patients in that age group bring the total to 12,706.
Another 41 new patients are between the ages of 20 and 39 and make up 13,419 of all cases in the province, the most of any age group.
Nineteen new cases were recorded in people 19 years of age and younger, a statistic Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he has been keeping a close eye on as students prepare to return to class.
Twenty-one cases were reported in patients between the ages of 60 and 79 and eight cases were reported in patients 80 years of age or older.
Health officials concerned by trends
Dr. David Williams said during a press conference on Thursday that he's concerned by Ontario's COVID-19 trends.
"It does concern me because we were well under 100 for a week or so and then we bumped up higher," Williams said. "I'm hearing from health units, as I talk to Peel and Toronto, they're dealing with clusters around social events."
Williams said that people not following public health guidelines is a "concerning issue" and is pleading with Ontarians to "stay the task."
"I know it's a long run but it's just the way it is with these viruses," Williams said.
Meanwhile, Most of the new cases reported on Thursday are in just three regions. There were 45 new cases in Peel, 31 in Toronto and 22 in Ottawa.
Of the province’s 34 public health units, 18 reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
The other 13 public health units recorded five or fewer new cases.
COVID-19 testing in Ontario
The province has completed more than three million tests for COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak.
At least 26,298 of those tests were processed in the last 24 hours alone.
There are 22,769 tests currently under investigation
Nearly half of the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine Alberta received less than one week ago have been administered.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro said 2,148 health care workers had received their first of two shots as of Sunday morning.
He called it “remarkable progress” considering the first shipments of 3,900 doses were arrived in the province Dec. 14.
Another 25,350 doses are due in Alberta within days.
Some of those will be set aside to be given as a second shot, which is needed for the vaccine to be fully effective.
Alberta is vaccinating priority health-care workers first, like respiratory therapists, ICU staff and physicians, and long-term care and supported living employees.
The vaccine will be offered to more health-care workers in future weeks, as well as people most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Currently, the government estimates the second phase of vaccine rollout will happen in the spring, although it is subject to factors like vaccine availability and arrival, the chief medical officer of health has said.
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