New COVID-19 cases in Ontario drop below 500 as vaccine certificate takes effect
Ontario is reporting fewer than 500 new cases of COVID-19 for the first time in weeks as the province’s vaccine certificate takes effect.
The 463 infections logged Wednesday mark the lowest single-day case total reported since Aug. 17 when 348 were found.
Of the cases reported today, 332 are in individuals who are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and 131 are in fully vaccinated individuals.
Right now, there are 299 people in hospitalized with the disease. Those hospitalizations include 271 patients who are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and 28 who are fully vaccinated.
There are 187 people in an ICU with COVID-19 and 178 are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. At least nine are fully vaccinated.
Wednesday’s report brings Ontario’s seven-day average for the number of cases reported to 691. A week ago, that number was 722.
Labs across the province processed 39,092 tests in the last 24 hours which the Ministry of Health said generated a positivity rate of 1.8. Health officials last reported a positivity rate that low on Aug. 7.
The province has logged 581,231 lab-confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus throughout the course of the pandemic. That number includes 565,710 recoveries and 9,670 deaths—seven of which were reported in the last 24 hours.
Starting today, people will need to show proof of vaccination to enter most non-essential businesses, including indoor restaurants, movie theatres, and gyms in Ontario.
READ MORE: This is where you need and don't need proof of vaccination in Ontario
Where are the new COVID-19 cases?
The province reported high case numbers in Toronto (93), Ottawa (54), and Windsor-Essex (48).
Other regions with case counts in the double digits include Peel Region (41), York Region (30), and Hamilton (27).
Schools across Ontario reported 179 COVID-19 infections Wednesday, including 153 among students, 19 among staff members, and seven unidentified cases.
At least 660 schools have a confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and one school is closed.
Another 650 cases of Delta variant confirmed
In the previous day, labs confirmed 650 additional cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant B.1.617.2.
This brings the total case count for the strain to 17,594.
No new cases of the Alpha, Beta, or Gamma variant were confirmed in the last 24 hours.
Update on vaccinations
As of today, 85.3 per cent of the eligible population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 79.4 per cent have received two doses, according to Health Minister Christine Elliott.
Some 40,000 needles went into arms on Tuesday alone, bringing the total number of shots administered to 21,475,030.
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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.