Ontario announces 211 new cases of COVID-19, bringing provincial total to 1,355

Ontario's health ministry is reporting 211 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 1,355.

The total includes fournew deaths in Ontario two reported Sunday morning and two more in the afternoon.That means 23people have died of the virus in the province. This morning the ministry said two of the deaths have had notbeen confirmed by a lab.

It's the largest single-day increasein cases so far.

A total of7,203cases are under investigation, while40,630 people have tested negative for the virus.

On Sunday, officials announcedthat at least eight firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19. The number includes six in Toronto, one in Mississauga and one in Oakville. It was not immediately clear if the eight are included in the case numbers reported early Sunday.

Meanwhile, a First Nation in southern Ontario said it was erecting checkpoints at entrances and exits to its territory after confirming their first cases of COVID-19.

The Six Nations of The Grand River said Sunday that two people on the reserve had tested positive and were self-isolating.

Elected Chief Mark Hill said the move to set up checkpoints represented a drastic step in their fight against COVID-19.

The overall case numbers, released Sunday morning, come after the Ontario government issued anemergency order Saturday night prohibitinggatherings of more than five people. It replaces a previousban on public events of more than 50 people.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the order, issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, isin an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. The order applies toorganized public events and social gatherings, the province says.

Ford said in a news release that "stronger action" is required to flatten the curve of cases.

5-person limit designed to ensure physical distancing

"If we are going to stop the spread of COVID-19 now and keep our communities safe, we need to take extraordinary measures to ensure physical distancing," said Premier Doug Ford.

"I strongly encourage everyone to do the responsible thing and stay home unless absolutely necessary. I can assure everyone that we will do everything in our power to stop this virus in its tracks."

Ford noted at a news conference on Saturday that there are exceptions to the new emergency order severely limiting the size of gatherings.

The order doesn't apply to private households with more than five people. Child-care centres that look after the children of front-line workers are limited to 50 people. And up to 10 people are allowed to gather at funerals.

According to the province, public events and social gatherings include parades, weddings and communal services within places of worship.

Failure to comply with an order made during a declared emergency can result in a daily fine of$750,under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

And if a person obstructs another person exercising a power, or performing a duty, in keeping with an order made during a declared emergency,the offendercould face a daily $1,000 fine.

Police can also issue fines under Part I of the Provincial Offences Act or issue summons under Part III.

"We have confidence that Ontarians will follow the medical advice and follow the emergency orders issued," Greg Flood, spokesperson for the Ontario Solicitor General's ministry said in an email on Sunday.

Ford has alsoannounced stiff new measures to prevent price gouging for important products during the COVID-19 crisis.

He said individuals found guilty of price gouging could face fines of $100,000, while company directors could facefines of $500,000as well as a year in jail.

Ford saidcorporations may be fined as much as $10 million. The new rules went into effect on Saturday.

Province issues new instructions forconstruction sites

As for the construction industry, the Ontario governmentannounced on Sunday an update to a "guidance" document for employers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on constructionsites.

The update instructs employers to do the following:

• Providebetter on-site sanitation, including a focus on high-touch areas like site trailers, door handles and hoists.
• Communicateroles, responsibilities, and health andsafety policies, byposting site sanitization schedules and work schedules.
• Enablegreater distances between workers by staggering shifts, restricting site numbers and limiting use of elevators.
• Protectpublic healthby tracking and monitoring workers.

"Keeping job sites open during the current pandemic requires a heightened focus on health and safety," Ontario Labour MinisterMonte McNaughtonsaid in a news release. "We all have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19."

Also on Sunday,Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new federal funding for those experiencing higher levels ofstressbecause ofself-isolation policiesincluding children, seniors, the homelessand those facing violence at home.

He said the government is contributing $7.5 million to Kids Help Phone to hire more counsellors, adding that children feeling anxious should go online, call 1-800-668-6868, or text 686868 to reach the service.

Peel region first responders salutehealth care workers

Meanwhile, in Peel region, police, paramedics and firefighters drove by Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga on Saturday in a parade, with sirens on and lights flashing, to show their support for health-care workers.

"You are truly our superheroes and we WILL beat #COVID-19!" Peel police said in a tweet.