TORONTO — A local Ontario health unit is reporting a second death in the province linked to COVID-19.
Halton Region Public Health says the man in his 50s also had an underlying health condition.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott wasn't immediately able to confirm the death.
She says it is still unknown whether COVID-19 was the cause of death in the first linked fatality in the province, or if that 77-year-old man died from another cause, but also had the virus.
Ontario is reporting 43 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total in the province to 257, including the one earlier death and five resolved cases.
One of the new patients, a man in his 80s in Durham Region, is hospitalized.
But information on whether people are self-isolating or hospitalized, their ages and regions, as well as how they were infected, is listed as "pending" for more than half the new cases.
Health Minister Christine Elliott is also announcing that following technical difficulties with the Telehealth Ontario line Wednesday, the province has added an additional 1,300 lines.
The Ontario government is expected to pass emergency legislation today aimed at protecting workers forced to stay home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Doug Ford has said it will apply to employees under investigation, supervision or treatment for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Workers in isolation or in quarantine and those who need to provide care to someone related to COVID-19, including for a school or daycare closure, would also be protected.
The government house leader says he expects the bill to pass unanimously.
Given social distancing, only 26 members will be in the house: 13 governing Progressive Conservatives, eight New Democrats, two Liberals, one Green, one Independent, and the Speaker.
They will be allowed to sit anywhere to ensure adequate space among them.
The legislature is then expected to be suspended until March 25, two days later than it was previously set to return after March break. Finance Minister Rod Phillips is set to deliver a scaled-back economic forecast that day instead of the planned full budget.
Government house leader Paul Calandra acknowledged the unusual nature of the one-day sitting, but conceded there could be more like it as the Progressive Conservative government responds to the evolving situation.
"Like everybody else, I hope that this is resolved very quickly," he said. "But until the medical officer of health tells us otherwise, this could be the new norm for the Ontario legislature for the foreseeable future."
Calandra said the government has been in discussions with the opposition parties and praised them for their co-operation in the face of turmoil.
He said the government has taken the unusual step of giving the opposition in-depth briefings and taken some suggestions to amend the legislation.
"It's not going to be everything that the opposition has asked for, but we did make some changes," he said. "But ultimately, they did agree that there would be very reduced numbers in the house, that we would speed up the passage. Debate will still occur, (but) it will be quick."
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said her party will support the expedited passage of the bill but is disappointed it will not contain more protections for workers.
"Ultimately, the measures being agreed to can only be seen as a small first step," she said in a statement.
Green party Leader Mike Schreiner said he, too, will support the bill.
"In times like this, politicians must put partisanship aside to unlock support and assistance for people," he said.
Calandra said the government will also introduce — and expects to pass — a second bill to enable municipal councils to meet by teleconference during the pandemic.
He said the legislature is expected to sit for approximately 90 minutes Thursday afternoon to pass both pieces of legislation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2020.
Shawn Jeffords and Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
