April 9th, local time, Ontario, Canada’s largest province with the largest population, added 4,227 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the largest increase in a single day since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. So far, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the province is 378,339, and the cumulative number of deaths is 7,512.
Ontario’s health care system is under immense pressure as the growing number of COVID-19 patients. As many as 1,492 people have been hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 in the province. Of these, 552 people are in intensive care, and 359 people need to use ventilators.
Ontario’s health authorities have informed most hospitals in the province on April 8 that all medical services except emergency and rescue surgeries will be suspended to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients. Ontario’s health authorities have not issued such guidance to hospitals since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
In addition, hospitals have also been notified that they should be prepared to send medical staff to areas with severe epidemics.
Ontario has a population of about 14 million, about 38 percent of Canada’s 37 million population.
