Ontario had a record high day-to-day increase of COVID-19 cases from December 29 to 30.  There were 3,328 new cases in that period.  To put it in local perspective, the population of the Township of East Hawkesbury is approximately 3,296.

The record case numbers came just five days after the province of Ontario began a shutdown on Boxing Day of all but essential businesses and services that is to last at least 28 days.  Bars and taverns are closed, and restaurants are only offering take-out and delivery service.

No social public or private social gatherings are permitted, unless it is with a person who lives alone.

On Thursday, Ontario MPP Rod Phillips resigned as the province’s Minister of Finance after it was recently discovered he was on vacation on the Caribbean island of St-Barthélémy while the provincewide shutdown is in effect and international travel is highly discouraged.  Premier Doug Ford has appointed President of the Treasury Board Peter Bethlenfalvy to also assume the role of finance minister.

There were 285 active cases of COVID-19 across the jurisdiction of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) as of Thursday, December 31.  There have been 1,423 cumulative cases under EOHU jurisdiction since the pandemic began.  As of Thursday, the number of deaths had increased to 33.  Five COVID-19 patients under EOHU jurisdiction were in hospital but no patients were in intensive care as of December 31.

Long-term care outbreaks

The following other long-term care and other group living institutions under EOHU jurisdiction had active cases of COVID-19 as of December 31:

Pinecrest Nursing Home in Plantagenet

Russell Meadows Retirement Home

Valoris Residence in Hammond

Lancaster Long-Term Care

Cornwall Community Hospital CCU

St. Joseph’s Continuing Care (Quinn House) in Cornwall

Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge in Cornwall

Woodland Villa in Long Sault

TSIIonKwa NonhSoTe Long-Term Care Facility in Akwesasne

Ontario situation

As of December 30, there were 21,617 active cases of COVID-19 across Ontario, based on calculations using statistics from the Ministry of Health.  To compare, the population of the City of Brockville is approximately 21,854.

The cumulative number of cases of COVID-19 across Ontario was 182,159 as of December 30.  On Thursday, the Ministry reported that 156,012 of those cases were resolved.  Resolved cases do not include deaths.

There were 1,235 COVID-19 patients in hospital across Ontario as of December 30.  Out of those 1,235 patients, 337 were in intensive care, and 210 patients were on ventilators.

There had been 4,530 deaths due to COVID-19 across Ontario as of December 30.

Active COVID-19 cases under EOHU jurisdiction as of December 31, 2020.

Map: Eastern Ontario Health Unit