Toronto not ready to enforce Premier Doug Ford's stay-at-home order

This is consistent with the rules during the lockdown during the first wave of COVID-19 in spring 2020 and will allow individuals and families to enjoy time outdoors safely.

Phase-one vaccination is due to be finished in the province's four biggest COVID-19 hotspots, including Windsor-Essex, by January 21, with all of Ontario's long-term care homes covered no later than February 15. Surgeries are being cancelled and the access to care deficit will continue to increase with real consequences for health.

The province has chose to delay doling out second doses in favour of administering a first dose to as many people as possible - a strategy acknowledged this week by the country's panel of vaccine experts.

"People are anxious if they misinterpret things will they get a fine by the police?" he said. "There will be choices about who will receive oxygen and who will be transported to hospital". It also said more than 11,000 vaccines have been administered since its last daily report.

The first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose in Canada sits ready for use at The Michener Institute in Toronto on December 14, 2020.

Hours for non-essential stores, including those restricted to curbside pickup, will be tightened under the new orders on Thursday. We need people to only go out only for essential trips to pick up groceries or go to medical appointments.

Growth in cases has accelerated and is over 7% on the worst days.

Currently, the number of Ontarians infected with COVID-19 doubles every 35-40 days. "The facts are clear: Cases and deaths are the highest since the start of the pandemic and community spread continues to escalate".

Public health officials have made recommendations to cabinet on what measures the province should undertake next.

Premier Doug Ford issued the order this afternoon saying he did not make the decision lightly.

The premier commented that walking the dog or going out to stretch your legs in the evening was not against the order.

The Ontario government is facing continued pressure to reinstitute paid sick days in the province as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents are now being asked to not leave their houses whenever possible during Ontario's stay-at-home order unless it's for essential reasons.

"Locally, there are 837 new cases in Toronto, 545 in Peel, 249 in York Region and 246 in Niagara. Increased contacts result from increased mobility", said Christine Elliott, Ontario's health minister.

Overall, total cases in Ontario grew to 222,203 cases with a further 186,829 cases reported as resolved. Of those ICU patients, 262 are breathing with the help of a ventilator.

The province reported 74 more deaths from the virus on Wednesday, and 2,961 new infections.

Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector and long-term care, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space.

The premier added that Ontario's health care system is on the brink of collapse with COVID-19 cases and deaths at the highest levels ever in Ontario.