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
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies.
OPP seize $7.5 million worth of drugs in eastern Ontario
The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police says one person is facing multiple charges after a traffic complaint on Highway 17 in Head Clara Maria Township.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.