Ontario reports 510 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday

Ontario is reporting 510 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, including 37 new deaths.

The new provincial total of 12,245 cases is a 4.3 per cent increase over Tuesday’s total.

It is the lowest growth rate in recent weeks.

The province says 659 people have died as a result of the virus since Jan. 15.

For the first time since the outbreak, more than 50 per cent of the total number of cases are resolved.

Earlier this week, health officials said community spread of the virus appears to be peaking, while cases in long-term care homes continue to rise.

The province says four more facilities have declared an outbreak since Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 125.

There have been at least 295 deaths in long-term care throughout the pandemic with 22 deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

Hospitalizations are up from 829 to 878 with the number of people in intensive care units (ICU) at 243. Of those patients, 192 are on ventilators.

As of Tuesday, Niagara Region was reporting 385 cases, Halton Region had 386, and Hamilton had 348 confirmed cases of COVID-19.