The Canadian Press

Media reports say the Ontario government is poised to impose a province−wide lockdown starting Christmas Eve in an effort to combat a surge in COVID−19 cases.

In reports released this afternoon, Global News and Toronto radio station 680 News attribute the information to sources briefed on the plan.

The outlets say the lockdown, which will vary in length depending on the region, is set to be announced Monday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the government has said new measures would be announced Monday.

Meanwhile, the province reported 2,316 new cases of COVID−19 on Sunday and 25 deaths related to the novel coronavirus.

That marked the sixth consecutive day the province has registered more than 2,000 new infections.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said 486 of the daily cases are in Toronto, 468 in Peel Region, 326 in York Region, 151 in Windsor−Essex and 128 in Niagara.

All of those regions are currently under lockdown due to rising case counts, except for Niagara, which is moving to the red alert level of the province’s pandemic plan tomorrow.

Hamilton is also set to go into lockdown on Monday.

Provincial data also shows 875 people are currently in hospital as a result of COVID−19, with 261 in intensive care and 156 on ventilators. Elliott said more than 69,400 tests have been completed since the last daily report.

(C) The Canadian Press