Ontario sees 411 new COVID-19 cases, as province extends emergency orders to April 23

The Ontario government is extending itsCOVID-19 emergency orders until April 23 and adding some new ones as the provincial case count rises by 411 people to 6,648.

There have been691 patients admitted tohospital with COVID-19. Of this number,257 are in intensive care units, while 215 are on ventilators.

The government also reported on Saturdaythat 253 people have died of the virus in Ontario. A total of 2,858 people in the province have recovered, the province said.

According to CBC tallies, Ontariohas seen 283deaths.

At a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said there have been79 outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities and 109 deaths related to those outbreaks.

Since the end of January, 744 health-care workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Ontario.

But Williams said there is some good news: the province continues to see cases being resolved, which means people are recovering."We're now at 2,858, representing43 per cent of our cases."

Province adds new emergency measures

In addition to existing measures, Ontario announced new emergency orders on Saturday, including:

• Forbidding camping on Crown land.
• "[Making] it easier"to re-purpose buildings and put upmakeshift structures, such astents,to reduce healthcare pressuresand help shelters findmore sleeping space.
• Letting hospitals use retirement home beds to increase their capacity, "without certain labour relations implications."
• Emergency action to "improve cash flow" in the construction industry.

All previous COVID-19emergency orders will remain in place, including closing non-essential workplaces and restricting group gatherings.These actions are based on advice fromOntario's chief medical officer of health, the province said.

Got masks or gloves? Drop them off today

Two Canadian celebrities are urging people to drop off their masks, gloves and othersupplies Saturday at a personal protective equipment (PPE)drive in Toronto's east end.

Canadian hockey starHayley Wickenheiser and actor Ryan Reynolds are collaborating on the "Conquer COVID-19" drive, which is set to run weekly.

You can drop off gloves, masks, face shields, two-way baby monitors, iPads or tablets, andother medical equipment until 5 p.m.at 459 Eastern Ave.,a spokesperson said.

Health-care workers have been soundingalarms over fast-depleting stocks of PPE, a lack of which puts workers and patients at risk.

The donated supplies will go to clinics, hospitals, family physicians, nursing homes, elderly care facilitiesand other community health groups, a spokesperson said.

Companies step up to appeal for help

Premier Doug Ford saysthousands of businesses have offered to retool to help fight the virusafter the province appealed foressential supplies and equipment. The government says it has received more than 14,000 submissionstoa new web portal.

"Thousands of businesses put up their hand to make critical medical supplies and equipment," Ford said. "Ontario businesses have stepped up."

• INTERACTIVE |Tracking the coronavirus in Canada.

The response hasled to 7,500 emergency supply submissionsand $90 million in medical equipment purchases, Ford said.

But more help is needed, he added.

"We need to enlist even more of our entrepreneurial leaders in order to stop this virus in its tracks," Ford said in a news release on Saturday.

Ford said they have alsoseen people trying to scam the province. He said the province isdoing "due diligence," he called thescammers "disgusting" and threatenedto ensure people who are caughtare put in jail.

When asked about extending school closures,Ford said they are expecting aspike in cases in the next twoweeksandthat it's "premature" to make a decision.

"That will be a decision we'll be making after we speak to our chief medical officer. At the end of the day, he's going to have the call on this," Ford said.

The premier was alsoasked if grocery store workers wouldbe eligible for child care.Fordsaid Education Minister Stephen Lecceisadjusting the list of essential workers who are eligible for child care in thecoming days.

Issue more physical distancing tickets, Tory urges

Meanwhile, Toronto Mayor John Tory is calling for stricter enforcement and more tickets for people who floutphysical distancing rules.

"We have reports of everything from bonfires on the beach to hanging out in groups in parking lots to playing pickup sports in closed areas,"Tory said inan open letter to Toronto's police chief and the executive director of Municipal Licensing and Standards.

Police can issue$1,000 tickets if peoplewho don't live together are closer than two metres apart.

The fines could go even higher up to $5,000 upon conviction in court.

Torontopublic health reported another 23 people died of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the city's total number of deaths linked to the virus to 77.

While most residents are staying two metres apart, Tory said, "we are still having informational chats with hundreds of people who don't get it or won't comply."

"The time has come for stricter enforcement and more tickets."