Ontario sees single-day record for coronavirus deaths and 494 new cases

Ontario has seen 51 additional deaths as a result of coronavirus, which is a single-day high for the province. There were also 494 new cases of the virus confirmed on Wednesday, according to health officials.

The number of new cases is the second highest in a single day after April 8 when 550 were confirmed, CTV News reports.

There are now 8,447 confirmed coronavirus cases in Ontario, with 385 deaths. There have also been 3,902 recoveries with 334 of them occurring within the last 24 hours.

Ontario hospitals are currency treating 795 coronavirus patients with over 254 of them in intensive care. About 188 patients currently require a ventilator to help with their breathing.

Data shows that 6,010 tests were completed in Ontario on Tuesday—short of the 8,000 daily tests promised by the government for this point in time. Over 119,000 Ontarians have been tested for coronavirus to date.

The amount of tests that are under investigation has doubled in the past day as well—reaching 4,429. The Ministry of Health says this is due to expanded testing criteria.

In Ontario, 247 people who have died from the virus were over 80-years-old. There have been 115 deaths in people aged 60 to 79 and twenty-two in people aged 40 to 59. One person below 39 has died.

There have been 98 confirmed outbreaks in the province's long-term care homes. About 834 cases of the virus have been seen in residents of the homes and 453 staff members have been infected.

Today, the government is set to announce an enhanced plan to be used in the fight against coronavirus in long-term care homes.

Premier Doug Ford noted that seniors' homes have become the front lines of the fight against coronavirus. He says more details will be provided in the plan which will involve increased testing and infection control.

Staff members will also have to stop working in more than one home at a time.