COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario reach two-month high as indicators point to fall resurgence
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has reached a two-month high in Ontario, as most public health indicators now point to a fall resurgence of the virus.
The latest data released by the Ministry of Health suggests there were 1,465 people testing positive for COVID-19 in Ontario hospitals as of Wednesday afternoon, up from 1,265 the previous week and 1,141 on Sept. 22.
It is the highest number of people in hospital with COVID-19 since Aug. 4 and is approaching the peak of the summer wave on July 28 when 1,492 people were hospitalized.
Meanwhile, wastewater surveillance conducted by Public Health Ontario continues to point to a gradual uptick in viral activity levels in most parts of the province.
The rise began showing up in the province-wide data around the second week of September but has only recently been apparent in GTA-specific data.
- Tracking COVID-19 hospitalizations across Canada
Epidemiologists and public health experts have long warned of a fall wave and in recent weeks have raised concerns about two new subvariants of Omicron, which have made up an increasing share of cases in some European countries but are not yet circulating widely in Ontario.
“We know what is going to happen,” infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CP24 this week while discussing a likely fall wave. “We were having this conversation in the spring. We knew then that we had to prepare for the fall and winter because there would be a predictable rise in cases so it comes to no one’s surprise that we will see an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the community. If you look at European settings, they're already starting to have an upward tick in hospitalizations.”
The latest data released by the ministry revealed that there were 8,627 new cases of COVID-19 detected through PCR testing over the last seven days, marking the fourth consecutive week in which that number has rose.
Positivity rates also continue to rise. Over the last seven days the average positivity rate on PCR tests was 13.57 per cent, up from 12.42 per cent one week ago.
The number of active outbreaks in the handful of settings with widespread access to PCR testing also appear to be increasing.
According to the latest data, there were 159 active outbreaks in long-term care homes, 144 active outbreaks in retirement homes and 86 active outbreaks in hospitals as of Wednesday.
Those numbers are all up between 13 and 28 per cent week-over-week.
Ontario also added 76 net new deaths to its COVID-19 tally this week. The total death toll since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 now stands at 14,427.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.