OTTAWA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Canada has confirmed a total of 180,145 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday afternoon, including 9,608 deaths, according to CTV.

The case count rose over the 170,000 level on Tuesday.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said in a statement on Saturday that Canada is seeing shifting patterns in the spread of COVID-19 over time.

"While the highest case numbers have been in the 20 to 39 age group over the summer, we are now seeing increasing case numbers in older age groups, where the risk of more severe outcomes is higher," said Tam.

"We must do everything possible to prevent the introduction and further spread of the virus in these settings," she added.

Canadians began the Thanksgiving long weekend amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases that has prompted more restrictions in several hot areas.

Saturday morning, Ontario province reported 809 new cases and seven more deaths, a day after recording another daily record with 939 new cases and five more deaths.

The Ontario provincial government has closed gyms, movie theaters and casinos and banned indoor dining, and urged Ontario people to stay home as much as possible for at least 28 days.

Meanwhile, Quebec province confirmed 1,097 new cases and 13 more deaths on Saturday. The province reported more than 1,000 new infections for the eighth time in nine days.

The provincial government called on Quebecers to make sacrifices and avoid socializing over the long weekend.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Friday that the country is "at a tipping point in this pandemic" as he released new projections that suggested the death toll in Canada could reach 9,800 by the end of next week, a situation he said requires immediate efforts by Canadians to curtail outings and gatherings. Enditem

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