Ontario's Ministry of Health hasnow confirmed 212 cases of COVID-19within the province, up from a total of 186 patients reported on Tuesday night, with five cases now marked as resolved andone as deceased.

Among the newly-confirmed positive cases on Wednesday are four people from the Halton region, three in Toronto, three in Hamilton, two in Peel, one in York, one in Waterloo, one in Ottawa, one in Middlesex-London, one in Chatham-Kent, one in Grey-Bruce, one in Simcoe-Muskoka, one in Brant and one in Algoma.

Locations for the remainder of new cases are listed as "pending," and all but five are thought to have contracted the virus through travel or close contact with someone who had recently travelled.

Visit our webpage for the latest and most up-to-date information on the 2019 novel#coronavirus(#COVID19) in Ontario. We are updating the page every day, seven days a week, at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET:https://t.co/alKmkTvq6Mpic.twitter.com/hYVbMzZQZn

— ONTHealth (@ONThealth)March 12, 2020

While the double-digit jump in the number of confirmed cases is higher thanyesterday's uptick of only nine new patients, it's still lower than the39 confirmed on Sunday.

What did grow exponentially over the past 24 hours is the number of people in Ontario being tested for COVID-19.

On March 17, the province had listed 1,567 cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus as "currently under investigation."

Today, March 18, that same number is listed at 3,379 — an increase of more than 100 per cent.

This is not necessarily cause for alarm, however. The data simply indicates that Ontario has been testing more people since Premier Doug Fordannounced a state of emergencyin the province on Tuesday.

The latest numbers put Ontario at 210 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 1 death.

Good to see a big spike in tests since yesterday!

See more here:https://t.co/cEtnJYmZ47#covidOntario#covidtoronto#covidcanda#coronavirushttps://t.co/ygL0lKHmQMpic.twitter.com/2vCT9EfJJW

— Russell Pollari (@russ_poll)3月18日,2020

These numbers, as well asreports from front-line workersat dedicatedCOVID-19 assessment centres, indicate that the number of people attempting to get tested for the virus is growing fast.

As of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Ontario's Ministry of Health was reporting technical issues with its Telehealth Ontario Line — the line it has been directing residents with coronavirus symptoms to call.

The provincial government is still asking all residentsnotto visit an assessment centre unless referred by a healthcare professional, astest kit supplies are limitedand must be reserved for patients at risk, such as seniors.

"Contact Telehealth Ontario at1-866-797-0000, yourlocal public health unitor your primary care provider if you’re experiencing symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus," reads the government's deciated coronavirus website. "Do not call 911 unless it is an emergency."

Ontario enacts Declaration of Emergency to protect the public from#COVID19. Mandatory closures of facilities and organized events of 50+ people are legally required until March 31. Learn what is closed:https://t.co/tCMLHzGV53|#COVID2019#covidontariopic.twitter.com/Ul7EbXxqaW

— Ontario Government (@ONgov)March 17, 2020

The province remains in a state of emergency to help contain the local spread of COVID-19 amidst aglobal pandemic outbreak, which has so far seen 7,426 people die worldwide.

Within Ontario, all bars, restaurants, libraries, movie theatres, stadiums, schools and recreational facilities are now closed andgatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited.

These measures will stay in place until at least March 31, at which point the province says it will will "reassess for an extension or end the closures."