Ontario logs 5,979 new COVID-19 cases over span of 2 days

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, says there is growing evidence that people who are hospitalized with variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are needing intensive care at higher rates.

The three doctors also appealed to Williams to move schools to online learning in regions with significant COVID-19 outbreaks, remove businesses from the list of essential services, and implement 50 per cent staffing limits for those businesses deemed essential. Students in Peel will learn remotely from April 6 until at least April 18.

British Columbia health officials announced 1,068 new test-positive COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 105,988.

Morrison says two cases reported on March 26 have been confirmed as the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom.

The doctors also called on the province to secure more vaccines for Ontario and direct shots to people most in need.

In an effort to curb rising COVID-19 cases and ICU admissions, non-essential retail stores will be restricted to curbside pickup only according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

Ten deaths were linked to the virus on today's report and 12 on Sunday's update from the province.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says that 955 of those new cases are in Toronto, 561 are in Peel Region, and 320 are in York Region.