Ontario heading into a “emergency-brake” shutdown starting Saturday By Skylar McCarthy Apr 1, 2021 2:55 PM Effective on Saturday at 12:01 am, Ontario is imposing a province-wide emergency brake shutdown. This is due to the rising case numbers as Ontario is reporting roughly 2,500 new cases of COVID-19 today. The lockdown is expected to last at least 4 weeks. From March 26 to 28, provincial case rates have increased by 7.7 per cent to 101.1 cases per 100,000 people. Current COVID-19 related ICU admissions are already over the peak of wave two. ICU admissions are projected to exceed 650 beds in a few weeks. Ontario is reporting 2,557 cases of #COVID19 and nearly 62,300 tests completed. Locally, there are 743 new cases in Toronto, 484 in Peel, 311 in York Region, 131 in Ottawa, 119 in Hamilton and 107 in Durham.