As local transportation authoritiesramp up cleaning proceduresand people acrossthe countryandthe worldstock up on supplies in a panic over the 2019 novel coronavirus, the number of positive diagnoses continues to rise, including in Toronto.

Eight new cases of COVID-19were confirmed in Ontarioover the course of March 5 and 6 — four of them in Toronto — bringing the provincial tally to 28 (four of whom have recovered). There are 72 additional patientscurrently under investigation.

One of the latest cases, announced late yesterday evening, involves a man in his 40s who recently returned to the area from a trip to Las Vegas. He was assessed at the emergency department of Toronto Western Hospital sometime on March 4 and sent home to self-isolate,though he took public transportation in Toronto and Miltonwhile infectious.

Someone in Toronto now has the Coronavirus after coming back from Las Vegas? You guys remember that Casino scene in the movie Contagion...pic.twitter.com/N8SCd6Ac0D

— Sean (@SmSmith94)March 6, 2020

As of yesterday, the Southern Nevada Heath District had only confirmed one case of the virus — a surprisingly low number given the fact that Las Vegas is by naturea hub for tourists from around the worldand a big spot for the exchange of cash, the handling of whichsome worry could help spread the virus.

所有新cases confirmed in Ontario yesterday and today are in people who have recently travelled: one to Vegas (now in Toronto), three to Iran (two now in Toronto and one in Richmond Hill), two to Italy (one now in Toronto and one in the Waterloo region) and two from the Grand Princess cruise ship (now in Mississauga) — the same ship that is nowdocked off the coast of San Franciscodue to a coronavirus outbreak in a new batch of people onboard.

Of the recent cases, patients have been assessed at emergency departments at Mount Sinai Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, North York General Hospital, Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, Grand River Hospital and Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital.

Iran and Italy have recently become the location of large-scale outbreaks of COVID-19 — the former is approaching 5,000 confirmed cases, and the latter, nearing 4,000 — and the Canadian government has advised against non-essential travel to both, among other nations.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has updated its list of travel health notices for#COVID19which includes 7 countries, China, Iran, Hong Kong, Northern Italy, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.

— Dr. Rana, Neurologist (@DrRana_Centrist)March 6, 2020

Within Canada, there have been 53 confirmed positive cases thus far, with 28 in Ontario, 21 in B.C., threein Quebecand one in Alberta at the time of publication.

Most have shown mild enough symptoms that they do not require hospitalization and have been sent home to recover in isolation. The federal government just appointeda special cabinet committeeto help monitor the coronavirus situation this week, and Ontario is looking atsetting up standalone testing centresso those sick with the illness are not exposed to others in hospital.

The economy in Canada is officially taking a hit from coronavirushttps://t.co/UBiyW9ZM4i#Canada#cdnpoli#冠状病毒

— Freshdaily (@freshdaily)March 5, 2020

Globally, the number of cases has risen to more than 100,000 inat least 84 countries, with approximately 3,400 deaths thus far — 80 per cent of those cases and nearly 90 per cent of those fatalities in mainland China.

Slightly more than half of those who were diagnosed have since recovered, with the mortality ratehovering around 3.4 per centoverall, though this number changes drastically depending on where a patient is located in the world.

Chinese scientists are speculating thatthere may be two strains of the virus目前传播,其中一个更激进的than the other.