Ontario reports 78 new coronavirus cases, provincial total at 503

Ontario reported 78 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the provincial total to 503.

It’s the largest increase in a day so far.

The total includes six deaths and eight cases that have fully resolved.

At least six of the new cases are hospitalized, including a woman in her 30s, a man in his 40s, two people in their 50s and two people in their 70s.

Information on dozens of the new cases is listed as pending.

Since Sunday, more than 1,950 people tested negative, while more than 8,000 people are still awaiting their test

Ontario also enhanced its COVID-19 self-assessment tool Monday, making it interactive and allowing the province to gather data from it.

The new tool takes users through a series of questions about their symptoms and will help people determine if they are likely to have COVID-19 and what to do.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement that the tool will give the province real-time data on the number of people who are told to seek care, self-isolate or monitor for symptoms, as well as where in the province they live.

People calling Telehealth Ontario have reported long waits, but Elliott said the service now has more than 2,000 lines running, up from about 400 before the pandemic.

The government also says Ontario has 58 dedicated COVID-19 assessment centres running, well up from the 38 Premier Doug Ford said were open just a few days ago.

Elliott reminded people to practise social distancing, meaning staying at least two metres away from anyone outside their immediate family, and for anyone who has travelled to stay at home and self-isolate.