Oct. 30, 2020:Premier Doug Fords constituency office in Etobicoke confirms a COVID-19 outbreak. [34], On January 8, Ontario again recorded a new record high of new infections with 4,249 new cases. 21, 2021: Fords office announces he is self-isolating after being in close contact with a staff member in his office who tested positive for COVID-19. The rest of the province sees closures extended for two weeks while they will wait until Jan. 20 to find out future plans. Dec. 18, 2020:Ford calls an emergency meeting with health officials from across the province to discuss ways to tackle rising hospitalizations from COVID-19 as infections surge. Mar. Ontario also announces 17 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 59. 26, 2021: The Ontario Public School Board Association issues letter to Stephen Lecce stating that teachers should be vaccinated as early as possible in order to keep kids in classrooms. © 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Ex-husband of Edmonton soldier who tried to kill their children plans to sue Canadian military on Facebook, Ex-husband of Edmonton soldier who tried to kill their children plans to sue Canadian military on Twitter, COVID-19 pandemic stress leading to nurses increasingly asking for help, COVID-19 pandemic stress leading to nurses increasingly asking for help May 9, 2021, Ford has all the confidence in the world in Ontario health officials as 1st case of coronavirus reported, Coronavirus outbreak: First potential virus-related death reported in Ontario, Coronavirus outbreak: Officials at Barrie hospital discuss Ontarios first virus-related death, Coronavirus outbreak: Man in his 50s is the second COVID-19 death in Ontario, Canada-U.S. border closed to non-essential travel, Coronavirus outbreak: Ontario declares state of emergency over COVID-19, Death toll climbs to 9 at Bobcaygeon nursing home as COVID-19 outbreak continues, Doctor says COVID-19 turned Ontario nursing home into war zone, Lack of training for care home workers could fuel COVID-19 spread, Pinecrest Nursing Home employee in Bobcaygeon, Ont., plays with toddler son through window, Bobcaygeon nursing home celebrates first resident going outside since coronavirus outbreak, Ontario issues province-wide emergency alert, Coronavirus outbreak: Doug Ford designates Easter Bunnys work as essential service, Coronavirus outbreak: Doug Ford gets choked up, says we can do better in COVID-19 fight, Coronavirus outbreak: Ontario extends closures for publicly-funded schools until May 31, Ontarios warm weather brings out crowds and complacency, Back to court at some courthouses in Ontario, Toronto and Peel Region enter Stage 3 of reopening, Coronavirus: Ontario releases COVID-19 Management Plans for schools, Coronavirus: Ontario pharmacies begin COVID-19 testing, Coronavirus: Premier Doug Ford says Ontario is in the second wave, Canadians fear impact of second wave of COVID-19, Thanksgiving sales key for Ontario turkey farmers bottom line amid pandemic, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle evicted from their U.K. home by King Charles, Ex-husband of Edmonton soldier who tried to kill their children plans to sue Canadian military, Coronavirus: Premier Doug Ford urges Ontario residents to only celebrate with their household this Thanksgiving, GoodLife Fitness asks members to urge Ontario government to reopen gyms, Coronavirus: Ford says new colour-coded COVID-19 control system is about early detection, early prevention, Coronavirus: Surgical backlog in Ontario causing concern, Coronavirus: Adamson BBQ owner released on bail, Neighbour of Adamson Barbecue says fight for small business is actually hurting. This also pushes the total number of cases past the 50,000 mark. Ontario Government Issued Photo ID must also be presented in both phases. Jan. 19, 2021:Doug Ford issues plea to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden for help in obtaining more Pfizer COVID-19vaccines amid a shortage of doses in Canada. 41 Comments . Before that, the city was under some form of lockdown from 10 October, when the second wave (and then the third wave) began to hit. Sept. 26, 2020: Huge crowds take over the Town of Wasaga Beachfor a car rally despite provincial gathering restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. 15, 2021: Ontario reports 4,736 new COVID-19 cases, a single-day high since the pandemic began. Jan. 15, 2021:The Federal government announces that Pfizer will cut its vaccine shipments to Canada in half for four weeks as it works to retool its plant. March 19, 2020:Ontario health officials say there are 43 new cases of the novel coronavirus. March 19, 2020:The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks shutters provincial parks until April 30 to protect the health of employees and visitors. The province also extends the list of non-essential businesses that must close, including non-critical industrial construction projects. Over the weekend leading up to Christmas, it was reported that the Ontario Government would implement a provincial lockdown on Christmas Eve, which it then decided to delay until Boxing Day despite hospitals urging against the move. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing stories, delivered to your inbox. Vulnerable seniors, their caregivers, and health-care workers are among those who will get it first. It marks the first known case of the strain in Ontario. Mar. 11, 2021: The province announces that another 700 pharmacies are joining theCOVID-19vaccine rollout as the province races to slow to spread of the virus. For the second day in a row, the province reports a record number of news cases. Adani Ent. All of Ontario is now staying in lockdown until at least Jan. 23 When the new blanket lockdown for Ontario was initially announced last month, the plan was for regions in the north of the. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, issued a stay-at-home order Tuesday, as officials warn there is a "real and looming threat of the collapse of the province's hospital system" if . Dec. 31, 2020:Up to 300 residents of Castleview Wychwood Towers in Toronto become the first to be recieve the Moderna vaccine. The Ontario-wide lockdown will start on Boxing Day, Premier Doug Ford has announced. May 4, 2021: The Bridges at Tillsonburg Golf Club, which remained open in defiance of the provinces stay-at-home order, announces a temporary closure after more than two dozen charges laid against patrons and the golf course itself. [36][37], Results of an inspection "blitz" over the weekend of January 15 on big-box stores revealed a compliance rate of 70 percent with 36 of 110 stores visited at random in violation of COVID-19 protocols. [144], On April 7, in order to protect hospitals and the vaccination program, Premier Ford declared a third state of emergency and announced a second stay-at-home order that took effect at 12:01a.m. Ontario has been requiring a whole ton of different childhood vaccinations to attend public schools since 1982. . Jan. 6, 2021:Ontario government launches a pilot program that will test international travellers returning to the province for COVID-19. Some are surprised when the list of businesses to close does not include liquor stores, construction projects and realty services. March 16: Canada announces it is closing its borders to non-Canadians, apart from Americans and a few other exceptions. Mar. [33] In response to the continued surge, the province announced that the Provincewide Shutdown would be extended in northern Ontario for an additional 14 days (aligned with the length of Provincewide Shutdown in the south), and that elementary schools in the south will not return to in-person class until January 25. Apr. The second phase being using a COVID-19 Vaccine Passport System in Ontario, which would show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination using QR codes either printed on paper, or stored digitally using a smartphone, would be mandatory province wide beginning as of October 22. The lockdown will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 26 and remain in place until at least Jan. 23, 2021 in the 27 public health units that comprise southern Ontario, the government says. China orders a lockdown for millions of people in Wuhan and Hubei province as the death toll in the country reaches 18. The stay-at-home order is expected to be lifted in most of Ontario on February 16, excluding Peel, Toronto, and York, and any other area where the province believes it is not yet safe to lift the order. [155] On April 19, Ford was absent from the legislative session,[157], On April 20, Peel Public Health and Toronto Public Health both issued Section 22 orders mandating that businesses be closed for 10 days (with all employees required to self-isolate for the same period) if they are linked to five or more COVID-19 infections within the past 14 days. [161], On April 22, in his first media appearance since April 16, Premier Ford admitted that the government "made a mistake" and "went too far" with the measures they had announced on April 16. Jan. 7, 2021:The province announces it will allow the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators to play home games. Thousands have become ill across the province while hundreds have suffered COVID-19-related deaths as well. 2021 Source: Institute for Government analysis. July 24, 2020:Hamilton, the regions of York, Durham, Halton and Niagara as well as the counties of Haldimand, Horfolk and Lambton are allowed to enter Stage 3 of the provinces reopening plan. A number of municipal police departments announced that they would not perform random stops. Jan. 11, 2021:The death toll in the province reaches 5,012 after 29 more deaths are reported. comes under fire after it is revealed that vaccines were given to non-staff or residents. [194], As of May 11, one Hamilton apartment building was reported to have an outbreak of 107 cases of COVID-19. Phase one (primarily allowing retails and reopening more outdoor settings with restrictions). Oct. 6, 2020:Ontario reports 548 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the provincial total to 55,362. The local health unit says 39 workers caught the virus directly from the site outbreak as 22 of their close contacts also tested positive. non-critical industrial construction projects. Oct. 11, 2020:Hamilton public health officials link 47 cases to an outbreak at a spin studio in the city. In September of 2021, Donna did some research and came across both Delay, Don't Deny and Fast Feast Repeat. The sale of alcohol will be restricted after 10 p.m. and consumption of alcohol in businesses or settings after 11 p.m. Ontario is also expanding the eligibility for a 3rd dose or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for all 18+ residents beginning this Monday, December 20th. Government says that it cut back on administering doses over holidays to prevent staffing shortages in hospitals and long-term-care homes. Oct. 8, 2020:The province reports 797 new cases of the novel coronavirus. Feb. 12, 2020:Ontario health officials clear the London woman of the novel coronavirus. Here's how the city's six lockdowns unfolded. 22, 2021: AToronto policespokesperson tells Global News the service is reviewing a video posted on Facebook that appears to show two of its officers engaged in a verbal dispute with police in Aylmer, Ont., after officers in the town charged them and two others for violatingCOVID-19orders at a church. What follows is a timeline of major events since the outbreak began: Jan. 25, 2020: The first presumptive case is reported in Ontario (and Canada) when a man in his 50s, who came from Wuhan, China, feels minor symptoms. Jan. 7, 2021:Three days after a letter from Lecce is emailed to parents stating that kids will return to elementary school. [523], Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario (2021). The four steps of lockdown easing started in early March and will progress until the end of June when - if the data allows it - almost all restrictions will be removed. April 12 - Step two If all goes well,. The OHA says a return to Stage 2 with restrictions on indoor dining, bars, places of worship, weddings, gyms, movie theatres and other non-essential businesses is needed to prevent more cases and to allow schools to remain open. First lockdown announced. Mar. May 23, 2020: Ontario reports 412 new cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 25,040. to send health-care workers to Ontario: sources", "Alberta says no to Ontario request for health-care workers", "Ontario extends stay-at-home order, restricts interprovincial travel as province loses battle against COVID-19", "Ontario gives police authority to stop people, vehicles, ask purpose of travel", "Revised police measures still dangerous to Ontarians of colour, advocates say", "Ford absent from Ontario legislature for second day as critics openly call for his resignation", "Peel to require all businesses with 5 or more work-acquired COVID-19 cases to shut down immediately", "Peel introduces expedited workplace closures to stop spread of variants and protect workers and our community", "Toronto, Peel require all businesses with 5 or more work-acquired COVID-19 cases to shut for 10 days", "Ontario Premier Doug Ford isolating after staff member tests positive for COVID-19", "Ontario reports more than 3,300 new COVID-19 cases as ICU admissions hit record high", "Ontario reports more than 3,700 new COVID-19 cases as positivity rate increases", "Ontario reports single-day drop in new COVID-19 cases with fewer than 3,500 logged", "Ontario reports fewer than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases for first time in weeks", "Ontario reports fewer than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases for second straight day as death count remains high", "COVID-19 cases in Ontario shoot back up past 3,400 as ICU admissions trend downward", "Ontario teen dies with COVID-19 on same day he was admitted to hospital", "Ontario reports fewer than 2,900 new COVID-19 cases as positivity rate continue to dip", "Ontario reports more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, 47 additional deaths", "Ontario reports fewer than 2,800 new COVID-19 cases as positivity rate climbs", "Ontario reports lowest COVID-19 case count since March with just over 2,000 new infections", "Ontario reports more than 2,300 new COVID-19 cases as ICU admissions drop below 800", "Ontario's COVID-19 case count crosses 500,000 as province logs more than 2,700 new infections", "Ontario reports just over 2,300 new COVID-19 cases, 26 more deaths", "COVID-19 cases in Ontario remain below 3,000 for sixth consecutive day", "Ontario reports fewer than 2,200 new COVID-19 cases, another 30 deaths", "Fewer than 2,200 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ontario for second straight day", "Ontario reports lowest number of COVID-19 cases in nearly two months with fewer than 1,700 infections logged", "Fewer than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases reported in Ontario for second straight day", "Ontario's COVID-19 case numbers shoot back up past 2,000, another 27 deaths reported", "Ontario COVID-19 cases dip below 2,000 again", "Ontario reports nearly 1,800 new COVID-19 cases as outdoor amenities reopen", "Ontario reports nearly 1,700 new COVID-19 cases as province reaches vaccine milestone", "Ontario logs fewer than 2,500 new COVID-19 cases over 2 days following long weekend", "Ontario reports fewer than 1,100 new COVID-19 cases for second straight day", "Ontario reports just over 1,100 new COVID-19 cases as positivity rate plummets", "Ontario reports fewer than 1,300 new COVID-19 cases for fourth straight day", "Ontario reports just over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations under 1,000", "Ontario reports just over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases, 18 additional deaths", "Ontario reports fewer than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for first time in nearly three months", "Ontario will no longer give AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as 1st dose due to blood clot risk", "More than 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine coming to Ontario", "COVID-19 outbreak at Hamilton apartment complex now tops 100", "More than 100 COVID-19 cases linked to Hamilton apartment building", "Ontario reports fewer than 700 new COVID-19 cases for first time since October", "Ontario reports just over 700 new COVID-19 cases as positivity rate drops", "Ontario health officials report fewer than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for fourth straight day", "Ontario reports fewer than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for fifth straight day", "Ontario records slight drop in COVID-19 cases with fewer than 800 new infections", "Ontario records lowest number of new COVID-19 cases in nearly eight months", "Ontario logs lowest daily infection count since Sept. 2020 as province reaches new vaccine milestone", "Ontario logs fewer than 500 new COVID-19 cases for first time in 8 months", "Ontario COVID-19 cases dip below 500 for second straight day", "Ontario records over 500 new COVID-19 cases, slight increase over last two days", "Ontario reports over 500 new COVID-19 cases for second day straight", "Ontario reports more than 500 new COVID-19 cases for third straight day", "Ontario reports more than 500 new COVID-19 cases for fourth straight day", "Ontario reports fewer than 450 new COVID-19 cases", "Ontario reports fewer than 300 new COVID-19 cases, marking lowest single-day tally since September", "Ontario reports more than 350 new COVID-19 cases as positivity rate drops", "Ontario reports more than 350 new COVID-19 cases as positivity rate hits lowest since early October", "Ontario reports under 350 new COVID-19 cases, one additional death", "Ontario surpasses 9,000 COVID-19 deaths, adds more than 350 new cases", "COVID-19 cases in Ontario remain below 400 for sixth straight day", "Ontario reports lowest daily case count since mid-September with 270 new infections", "Ontario reports fewer than 300 new COVID-19 cases, spike in deaths while citing data cleanup", "Ontario reports fewer than 300 COVID-19 cases for third day straight, surpasses new vaccine milestone", "Ontario reports just under 300 new COVID-19 cases, 6 more deaths", "COVID-19 case numbers in Ontario remain below 300 for fifth straight day", "Ontario reports nearly 350 new cases of COVID-19, 13 additional deaths", "Ontario reports under 300 new COVID-19 cases, 12 additional deaths", "Ontario marks one-day drop with just over 200 new COVID-19 cases reported", "Ontario reports nearly 300 new COVID-19 cases, notes data review resulted in overestimation", "Ontario reports fewer than 200 new COVID-19 cases for first time since September", "Ontario schools will remain closed until September as province eyes earlier reopening date", "Ontario to Move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11", "Ontario Moving to Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen on June 30", "Ontario reports 484 COVID-19 cases, 28 deaths over past 2 days", "Ontario reports 209 COVID-19 cases, 9 deaths; 210K more vaccines administered", "Ontario reports 213 COVID-19 cases, 9 deaths; 196K more vaccines administered", "Ontario reports fewest new COVID-19 cases in nearly 9 months", "Ontario reports 170 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death", "Ontario reports 164 new COVID-19 cases with 80 older cases added due to data cleanup", "Ontario reports 194 new COVID-19 cases, zero deaths for the first time since last year", "Ontario reports 210 new COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths", "Ontario reports 183 new COVID-19 cases, 9 deaths", "Ontario reports 179 COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths; 207K more vaccines administered", "Ontario reports 166 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths", "Ontario reports 114 new COVID-19 cases, zero deaths for 2nd time in a week", "Ontario reports 146 new COVID-19 cases as more than 7 million Ontarians fully vaccinated", "Ontario reports 153 new COVID-19 cases, 7 deaths", "Ontario reports 143 new COVID-19 cases, 10 more deaths", "Ontario reports 159 new COVID-19 cases as more than 60% of adults fully vaccinated", "Ontario reports 176 COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths; 169K more vaccines administered", "Ontario reports 177 COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths", "Ontario reports 130 COVID-19 cases, 0 deaths", "Ontario government reports 127 new COVID-19 cases, 132K more vaccine doses administered", "Ontario reports 135 COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths", "Ontario reports 185 COVID-19 cases, 7 deaths", "Ontario reports 192 COVID-19 cases, 1 death", "Ontario reports 170 COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths; 124K more vaccines administered", "Ontario reports 172 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths", "Ontario reports 119 new COVID-19 cases, lowest daily increase in two weeks", "Ontario reports 129 new COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths", "Ontario reports 158 new COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths", "Ontario reports more than 200 new COVID-19 cases for 1st time in three weeks", "Ontario reports more than 200 COVID-19 cases for 2nd straight day", "Ontario reports more than 200 COVID-19 cases for 3rd straight day", "Ontario Moving to Step Three of Roadmap to Reopen on July 16", "Ontario reports more than 200 new COVID-19 cases for 4th straight day", "Ontario reports fewer than 200 new COVID-19 cases for 2 straight days", "Ontario reports under 200 new daily COVID-19 cases Civic Holiday Monday and Tuesday", "Ontario reports 139 new COVID-19 cases, 11 more deaths", "Ontario reports more than 200 new COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths with 12 due to data cleanup", "New COVID-19 cases in Ontario jump back above 200", "Ontario reports over 300 new COVID-19 cases for 1st time since late June", "Ontario reports more than 300 new COVID-19 cases for 2nd day in a row", "Ontario reports largest increase in COVID-19 cases since mid-June", "Ontario reports 325 COVID-19 cases, 0 deaths", "Ontario government reports 321 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths", "Ontario reports 324 new COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths", "Ontario reports over 500 new COVID-19 cases for 1st time since mid-June", "Ontario reports over 500 new COVID-19 cases for 2nd day in a row", "Ontario government reports 578 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths", "Ontario reports 511 new COVID-19 cases, 0 deaths", "Ontario reports 526 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths for 3rd straight day", "Ontario reports 348 new COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths", "Ontario reports nearly 500 new COVID-19 cases, 3 more deaths", "Ontario reports more than 500 new COVID-19 cases, 17 more deaths", "Ontario reports more than 600 new COVID-19 cases for 1st time since early June", "Ontario reports largest increase in COVID-19 cases since early June, 1 additional death", "Ontario reports more than 700 COVID-19 cases for 1st time since early June", "Ontario reports 639 new COVID-19 cases, 0 deaths", "Ontario reports 486 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths with most from historic data", "Ontario reports 660 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death", "Ontario reports 678 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths", "Ontario reports nearly 800 COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths with 14 more following data cleanup", "Ontario reports more than 800 COVID-19 cases for 1st time since early June", "Ontario reports more than 700 COVID-19 cases for 3rd straight day, 2 additional deaths", "Ontario reports 694 new COVID-19 cases, 0 deaths", "Ontario reports 525 COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths with 3 more following data cleanup", "Ontario halts reopening as province warns of 'difficult fall and winter' ahead", "Ontario reports 656 new COVID-19 cases, 13 more deaths with some older due to data cleanup", "Ontario reports 865 new COVID-19 cases, 14 more deaths", "Ontario reports 807 new COVID-19 cases, more than 10M people now fully vaccinated", "Ontario reports largest increase in COVID-19 cases since late May", "Ontario reports nearly 950 new COVID-19 cases, highest count since end of May", "Ontario reports 811 new COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths", "Ontario reporting 564 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, 581 from Labour Day", "Ontario reports under 600 new COVID-19 cases for 3rd straight day", "Ontario reports nearly 800 new COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths", "Ontario reports almost 850 new COVID-19 cases, 11 more deaths", "Ontario government reports 857 new COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths", "Ontario reports 784 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths", "Ontario reports 600 new COVID-19 cases, 6 more deaths", "Ontario reports 577 COVID-19 cases, 7 additional deaths", "Ontario reports just under 600 new COVID-19 cases, seven more deaths", "Ontario reports under 600 new COVID-19 cases as test positivity drops", "Ontario reports 864 new COVID-19 cases as daily testing increases", "Ontario reports nearly 800 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths", "Ontario government reports 795 new COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths added due to data review", "Ontario reports more than 800 COVID-19 cases, 10 additional deaths", "Ontario records more than 800 new COVID-19 cases", "Ontario reports 715 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths", "Ontario reports 610 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths", "Ontario reports 574 new COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths", "Ontario reports 463 new COVID-19 cases, smallest increase in five weeks", "New COVID-19 cases in Ontario drop below 500 as vaccine certificate takes effect", "Ontario reports 677 new COVID-19 cases as 7-day average continues to drop", "Ontario reports 727 new COVID-19 cases, 11 more deaths", "Ontario reports 640 COVID-19 cases, 10 more deaths", "Ontario reports 640 new cases of COVID-19, 10 additional deaths", "Ontario reports just under 700 new COVID-19 cases, 6 more deaths", "Ontario reports 653 COVID-19 cases as 7-day average continues to drop", "Ontario's 7-day average of COVID-19 cases stays flat, 0 new deaths", "Ontario reports 613 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths", "Ontario reports 466 new COVID-19 cases as counts continue to trend downwards", "Ontario reports fewer than 500 new COVID-19 cases for 2nd straight day", "Ontario reports 1,315 new COVID-19 cases over past 2 days", "Ontario reveals vaccine passport system for restaurants, gyms and theatres.