Situation Report #125: COVID-19

May 29, 2020

Situation:    

• 344 new cases were reported in Ontario today, bringing the cumulative case count to 27,210 (this includes 20,983 resolved cases and 2,230 deaths).
• In Ontario, a total of 680,687 tests have been completed, with tests performed at Public Health Ontario Laboratories and non-Public Health Laboratories. There are currently 13,351 tests under investigation.
• 826 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19; 129 are in ICU; and 100 are in ICU on a ventilator.

 Taken actions:

• As the province carefully and gradually reopens the economy, the Ontario government announced the implementation of the next phase of the COVID-19 testing strategy to detect and quickly stop the spread of the virus. Testing will now be available to more people in more locations across the province. This phase of the testing plan is outlined in the Document Protecting Ontarians Through Enhanced Testing .
• The Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance has been updated to support the new provincial testing plan. Key updates include: information on the testing and clearance process for asymptomatic patients, and updates approaches to clearing cases. This document is available on the Ministry website .
• The COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance document has also been updated to support the new provincial testing plan. Key updates include: guidance on asymptomatic testing, testing prior to surgical procedures, and contact-based testing in specific settings. This document is available on the Ministry website .
• The document entitled “COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart” has been posted on the ministry’s website .

Situation

• 344 new cases were reported today in Ontario, bringing the cumulative total to 27,210 (including 20,983 resolved cases and 2,230 deaths).
• In Ontario, a total of 680,687 people were screened at Ontario Public Health laboratories and other laboratories unrelated to Public Health Ontario. There are currently 13,351 analyzes in progress.
• 826 patients with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized; 129 are in intensive care and 100 are connected to an intensive care ventilator.  

Taken measures

• As the province cautiously and gradually turns the economy around, the Ontario government has announced the implementation of the next phase of its COVID-19 screening strategy to quickly detect cases and stop the spread of the virus. . More people will now be able to access screening tests at more locations across the province. This phase of the screening plan is outlined in the document Protecting the Ontario Population Through Increased Screening .
• The Public Health Counseling Checklist for Testing and Discharge has been updated to support the new provincial screening plan. Key updates include: information on the screening and discharge process for asymptomatic patients and updated approaches to case isolation leave. This document is available on the website of the Ministry.
• The COVID-19 Guidance Document: Provincial Screening Tests has also been updated to support the new provincial screening plan. The main updates include: orientation for screening in asymptomatic people, screening before surgery, and contact-oriented screening in specific settings. This document is available on the website of the Ministry.
• The document entitled ”  Operational requirements related to Covid-19: recovery of the health sector” is posted on the website of the Ministry.