Ontario to release new COVID-19 projections today – Toronto Sun

York Region, which moved to the red zone this week, saw 94 new cases

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Ontario recorded 1,054 new cases Wednesday with another 1,291 cases resolved.

Testing confirmed an additional five cases of the United Kingdom variant, known as B.1.1.7, for a total of 405 variant of concern (VOC) cases.

The province had administered 54,852 tests in the previous 24 hours, a positivity rate of 2.4%.

Nine more deaths were linked to the pandemic, bringing the total number of lives lost to 6,893.

Of the three regions still under a stay-at-home order Wednesday, Toronto reported 363 new cases, Peel Region 186 and North Bay-Parry Sound had one case.

York Region, which moved to the red zone this week, saw 94 new cases.

Ontario’s slow drip vaccine rollout administered just 17,141 doses Wednesday, bringing the total so far to 602,848 doses and 251,590 people fully vaccinated with the required double dose.

Each of the province’s 34 public health units is being asked to come up with a plan to deliver vaccinations.

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For instance, Peel Region is planning to set up three large vaccine clinics — one each in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga — but no appointments were being booked as of Wednesday.

Peel confirmed 45,300 doses given out so far which included over 15,500 in long-term-care (LTC) homes and retirement homes.

Meanwhile, Ontario optometrists say they have been rejected after offering to administer the vaccine.

Ontario veterinarians were recently added to the list of health-care professionals to administer the vaccine, alongside doctors, nurses and pharmacists,” a statement from the Ontario Association of Optometrists released Wednesday said.

“The question is, why have optometrists not been included since they work with patients on a regular basis and many already have had injection training as part of their professional curriculum?”

aartuso@postmedia.com