Canada: Ontario reports maximum new cases of COVID-19 on any single day in 3 weeks

Ford was joined by Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario Minister of Long-term Care, Michelle DiEmanuele, President & CEO of Trillium Health Partners, and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie.

Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott, in a series of tweets, had attributed the rise to localized increases in COVID-19 infections, namely in Peel, Ottawa and Windsor-Essex, each region confirmed 57, 43 and 24 new cases, respectively.

Elliott also noted that people 39 years old or younger accounted for 57 per cent of the newly confirmed infections of the novel coronavirus.

"While one day of data, today's increase is concerning," Elliott wrote.

"Ontarians of all ages need to continue to adhere to public health guidelines: maintain only one social circle of 10 people, physically distance with anyone outside of it and wear a face covering when doing so is a challenge." 

Ford said he has a message for the young people, "Don't go to the parties. Simple. It might not be you but it's going to be your parents, your grandparents, or your neighbours or your friends, your relatives. You are hurting people by doing this. Wear masks and if you don't have a mask, keep at least 6 feet or 2 meters of distance. Practice social distancing, continue to sanitize your hands. I just ask people to keep away from these parties. We have to keep this in control."

Of the total of 37,942 cases of COVID-19 in Ontario since the outbreak began in late January,  about 88.6 per cent have cured.

Ontario has seen a sudden rise this week of about 1,584 active cases, after several weeks of steady decline.

Increase in Ontario's new daily cases was seen just one day after Ford's announcement that another seven public health units would be moving into Stage 3 of the province's reopening plan on Friday.

Only Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex will remain in Stage 2 after July 24. 

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)