Ontario reports 318 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday

Ontario reported 318new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, downfrom 355 new cases on Saturday. The province is also reporting 12additional deaths.

The new case count includes 45cases in Toronto, 51cases in Waterloo region, 49 cases in Peel region, 26 cases in Ottawa, and 20cases in Hamilton, according to Health Minister Christine Elliott.

The seven-day average of new daily cases, a measure that smoothes peaks and valleys in data, currently sits at 359, continuing its recent steady decline.

As of 8 p.m. on Friday, 12,551,150 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered across the province.

Ontario is set to enter Step 2 of the government's reopening plan on July 2.

In the lead up to the next stage, more services are continuingto reopen. For instance, the city of Toronto announced expanded outdoor swimming pool access starting this weekend, in addition to renewed albeit still limited access to Riverdale Farm and the High Park Zoo.

The entire country has recently surpassed two COVID-19 vaccination targets that government officials have said are necessary before easing public health restrictions.

The first is that more than 20 per cent of eligible Canadians are now fully vaccinated. The second is that more than75 per cent have received at least one dose.

The targets are necessary to ensure that the loosening of restrictions doesn't result in hospitals being overwhelmed with cases again.

In Ontario, more than 20 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and older have now been fully vaccinated.

Fully immunized Ontario senior dies from COVID-19

A fully vaccinated 90-year-old woman who lived at a long-term care home in Kitchener has died after contracting COVID-19.

Schlegel Villages, which owns the care home in which the woman was living, announced her death on Sunday.

The companysaid the woman had "only shown mild symptomsbut, as we have seen through the course of the pandemic, the virus can change quickly."

Waterloo Region's associate medical officer of healthexpressed sympathy for the woman's family and friends.

"This person's death is a tragic reminder of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic is taking on families and the community," Dr. Rabia Bana said in a news release.

"Death is a very rare outcome in fully immunized individuals. I encourage everyone in Waterloo region to remain vigilant."

Ontario scales up Modernaafter Pfizer shipment delayed

Ontarians slated for a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine this week will be offered a Moderna vaccine instead due to a shipment delay, the government says.

A spokesperson for Elliott confirmed that abatch of Pfizer doses dueto arrive on Monday hasbeen delayed by two to three days.

However, Elliott's spokesperson saidpeople should not reschedule appointments to try to get a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a later date because the province has "a large supply of Moderna doses" ready now.

"To ensure maximum protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, Ontarians should get vaccinated as soon as they can," Alexandra Hilkene, spokesperson for Elliott, saidin an emailed statement.

While the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommend the safe mixing and matching of second doses of COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer is the only vaccine currently approved for use in Canada for anyone under the age of 18.

Border stillclosed despite mounting frustrations

Travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border will remain in place until July 21st to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday

Pressure to relax restrictions is mounting from businesses and politicians on both sides of the border as vaccination rates climbin Canada.

WATCH | Sarnia, Ont. MayorMike Bradley speaks to CBC'sRosemary Barton about the border closure:

'We want to see a clear plan,' says Sarnia, Ont., mayor on border closures

3 years ago

Duration 5:53

Mayor Mike Bradley of Sarnia, Ont., told CBC's chief political correspondent, Rosemary Barton, that although the July extension to travel restrictions makes sense for now, he would like to see a more concrete plan on how and when the U.S.-Canada border can reopen.

Trudeau said it would take 75 per cent of Canadians getting a first dose and 20 per cent receiving a second before rules can beloosened because a fully vaccinated individual can pass COVID-19 to someone who is not vaccinated.

He said he understood growing impatience from tourism operators and Canadians who want to travel, but the government didn't want to risk another flare-up of COVID-19.

Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, which represents Canada's largest employers, called for a clearly articulated plan to reopen the border safely "so that friends and families can be reunited and businesses can welcome back travellers."

Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the policy should be based on whether a traveller is vaccinated, not on nationality.

More details on rules for vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents are scheduled to land Monday.