COVID-19 cases in Ontario climb with another 226 new infections reported
Ontario health officials are reporting an additional 226 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, marking the fifth straight day in which infection numbers have climbed.
The data released by the government brings Ontario's lab-confirmed COVID-19 case total to 550,178, including 539,348 recoveries and 9,339 deaths related to the disease.
At least 11 of those deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health.
Labs across the province processed 20,993 swabs in the previous day, which officials said yielded a positivity rate of 1.1 per cent.
The seven-day average for the number of cases reported in Ontario stands at 170. That's up from the 160 reported this time last week and the 151 reported a week before that.
There are currently 117 patients with COVID-19 being treated in an intensive care unit. Of those patients, 77 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.
Where are the new COVID-19 cases?
Most of the cases reported by the province on Friday were found in Toronto (62), Waterloo (35), and Peel Region (24).
Case numbers in the double digits were also reported in York Region (13), Hamilton (13), and Halton Region (13).
Fifteen of the province's 34 public health units reported fewer than five new cases of COVID-19. Nine public health units reported no new cases.
Ontario is currently in Step 3 of its reopening plan, which has seen the province operating under the loosest set of public health restrictions observed in months for the past two weeks.
On Thursday, Health Minister Christine Elliott announced that Ontario had hit its first benchmark to exit Step 3 and move toward a complete reopening with 80 per cent of the eligible population having now received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
In order to move out of Step 3, the province must also have 75 per cent of the population with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, no public health unit can have less than 70 per cent of their eligible population vaccinated and other key indicators – like hospital capacity and case counts – must remain stable.
Update on COVID-19 variants of concern
Labs confirmed another 144 cases of the Delta variant B.1.617.2 since yesterday, pushing the case total to 4,565.
Twenty-eight other cases of the Alpha variant B.1.1.7 were also logged, which brings the case total to 145,536.
There was one additional case of the Beta variant B.1.351 confirmed. There are 1,493 such cases in Ontario.
No new cases of the Gamma variant P.1 were logged. The case total remains at 5,161.
Ontario’s fully vaccinated population nears 9 million
The province reported Friday that nearly nine million residents have now received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and are considered to be fully vaccinated.
More than 19 million needles have gone into arms across Ontario since the vaccination drive began in December.
Some 83,000 shots were administered on Thursday alone.
With files from Sean Davidson
Background
The numbers used in this story are found in the Ontario Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Daily Epidemiologic Summary. The number of cases for any city or region may differ slightly from what is reported by the province, because local units report figures at different times.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.