Ontario Health Minister calls uptick in new COVID-19 cases “concerning”

Ontario is reporting 203 new cases of COVID-19.

This is the first time in three weeks new cases have surpassed 200.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says the uptick in the number of cases is “concerning.”

Ontario is reporting 203 cases of #COVID19, a 0.5% increase. Today’s uptick is the result of localized increases: there are 43 of new cases in Ottawa, 57 in Peel and 24 more in Windsor-Essex. Looking at the age of today’s new cases, 116 of them or 57% are 39 years old or younger.

— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) July 21, 2020

According to Tuesday’s numbers, Peel, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor-Essex make up about 75 per cent of the new cases.

Ottawa is the only one of those who is in Stage 3 of reopening.

More than half of the new cases are people under the age of 39.

Here is how the numbers break down in our region.

Brant County: 0 new cases

Hamilton: 5 new cases

Haldimand-Norfolk: 0 new cases

Halton: 2 new cases

Niagara: 3 new cases

Brant County is already in Stage 3.

The rest of our region has been given the green light to move into Stage 3 on Friday.