Ontario sees 848 new COVID-19 cases in past 2 days as group of small businesses calls for capacity changes

The seven-day moving average of daily cases fell to 525, marking 10 consecutive days of decline.

Two other disease-related deaths were also reported within the same 48-hour period, bringing the official toll to 9,792.

Here are some other indicators and key figures of the pandemic of Daily provincial update from the Ministry of Health:

ICU patients with COVID-related illnesses: 149, of which 104 need a ventilator to breathe.

Tests carried out in the last 48 hours: 39,065, with an average positivity rate of 1.9%.

Active cases: 4,369, of which about 28% are associated with the public school system.

Vaccination: A combined total of 17,725 doses were administered by public health units on Sunday and Monday. About 82.1% of Ontarians aged 12 and over have now received two doses of the vaccine.

Small business group calls for capacity changes

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on Tuesday asked the provincial government to explain its rationale for increasing capacity limits at some major sites to 100% while continuing to impose restrictions on many. small enterprises.

“The Ontario government and public health officials need to come forward and explain in detail why they have again chosen to provide flexibility to some large companies while limiting small businesses,” CFIB said in a press release sent to the media.

“Small business owners are wondering how the [Toronto Maple Leafs] and [Ottawa Senators] can accommodate a full capacity while a bowling alley cannot open more than half of its lanes. “

On Friday, the province announced it was lifting capacity limits for certain parameters, including:

• Concert halls, theaters and cinemas.
• Spectator areas for sports and recreational facilities (would not include gymnasiums, personal training).
• Meeting and event spaces (indoor meeting and event spaces should always limit capacity to the number that can maintain a physical distance).
• Horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar sites.
• Commercial film and television productions with studio audiences.
• Some outdoor settings with capacity less than 20,000.

Proof of vaccination was already required for these media.

In its statement, CFIB said businesses like gyms, yoga and dance studios, swimming and martial arts halls, and bowling alleys continue to see their customer capacity capped at 50%, a limit which went into effect on July 16 when they were allowed to reopen to customers.

“CFIB urges the Ontario government to immediately level the playing field and increase small business capacity to 100 percent,” the release said.

Mayors call for continued funding

Meanwhile, the mayors and presidents of the 11 largest municipal governments in the greater Toronto and Hamilton areas issued a press release on Tuesday, calling for continued support from the federal and provincial governments through 2022.

“As we look to all of our municipal budgets for 2022, we anticipate similar challenges to those of 2021 caused by the pandemic, including a reduction in the use of public transport,” the statement said.

The group says continued funding is “more crucial than ever” to enable municipalities to pursue measures designed to support people amid the pandemic.

“Each government has worked together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help residents and businesses through these difficult times,” the statement said. “We hope that the cooperation will continue until 2022 for the benefit of the entire GTHA and all residents and businesses that inhabit this region.

Province announces new long-term care home in Vaughan

Also on Tuesday, Long-Term Care Minister Rod Phillips said the province, in partnership with a private equity firm, will build a new facility in Vaughan.

The 256-bed house, which is expected to be ready in 2026, will offer “culturally appropriate services to members of the Italian community,” the ministry said in a statement.

The facility will be located on a portion of a previously unused parcel of provincially owned land at 7231 Martin Grove Road.

The government signed a conditional purchase agreement for the land with Arch Facility Vaughn Inc., a wing of Arch Corporation, which markets itself as a private equity fund that “offers unique real estate investment opportunities for institutions. global and wealthy investors. The agreement is expected to be concluded in 2022, the province said.

“This new home is made possible by the province’s initiative to sell unused government land on the condition that part of the site is used for long-term care. This innovative program helps build long-term care beds where they are needed most, especially in urban areas where land is scarce and expensive, ”the province said.