Ontario reported a new single-day record of 1,132 COVID-19 cases on Saturday — the same day health measures are loosening in multiple COVID-19 hot spots as Ontario’s new tiered system takes effect.
Saturday’s update surpasses the previous high of 1,050, which was reported on Tuesday.
The colour-coded system — which classifies each public health unit as a red, orange, yellow or green zone based on caseload and transmission levels — came into force at midnight, as previous measures imposed on a handful of hot spots were set to expire.
Only Peel Region, which has seen rising cases in recent weeks, was deemed a red zone, while other hot spots such as York Region and Ottawa were labelled as orange. Toronto is scheduled to join the other regions next week.
Regions in the red category have, among other things, indoor restaurant dining limited to 10 people and gyms limited to 10 people indoors.
The orange level limits bars and restaurants to 50 people indoors, with no more than four seated together.
Health officials in Peel had asked that the region remain under a modified Stage 2 — the restriction classification system previously used by the government — which involves more stringent rules such as a ban on indoor dining in restaurants and bars.
Also as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, the following public health unit regions were moved to the yellow zone of the province’s pandemic plan:
Brant County Health Unit.
City of Hamilton Public Health Services.
Durham Region Health Department.
Eastern Ontario Health Unit.
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.
Halton Region Public Health.
Niagara Region Public Health.
Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services.
