Ontario reports under 350 new COVID-19 cases, one additional death
Ontario health officials are reporting just under 350 new COVID-19 cases as the positivity rate in the province continues to remain low.
The province confirmed 345 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, which marks a drop from the 370 reported the day before.
On Tuesday, officials marked the lowest daily total since Sept. 17 with 293 infections.
Ontario’s rolling seven-day average now stands at 410, down from 568 at this point last week.
With 26,643 tests processed in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health says the positivity rate in the province is 1.4 per cent.
The province also reported that one more person has died due to COVID-19 in the previous 24-hour period, bringing the total number of deaths to 8,994.
The last day the province recorded one death was Oct. 7, 2020.
There are currently 378 people in hospital due to the disease. At least 352 patients are in intensive care and 293 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.
The province deemed 624 more cases of the disease to be resolved as of Friday, bringing Ontario’s number of recovered patients up to 528,421.
Thursday’s report brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 541,525, including deaths and recoveries.
WHERE ARE THE COVID-19 CASES IN ONTARIO
Officials reported 85 new cases in Waterloo, 50 in Toronto, 50 in Peel Region, 29 in Hamilton and 22 in York Region on Friday.
The province confirmed an additional 228 new cases of B.1.1.7, first found in the U.K., on Thursday. The total case count for the strain now stands at 141,700.
Officials identified two new cases of B.1.351, originally found in South African, and so the total case count in the province rose to 1,146.
In addition, the province added 13 more cases of P.1, first found in Brazil, which brings its total number of cases to 4,200.
As for the Delta variant, also known as the B.1.617 variant, originally found in India, officials reported 71 new cases of the strain, which brings the total number in the province to 657.
MORE THAN 2.5M PEOPLE FULLY VACCINATED IN ONTARIO
The province reports that 2,547,241 people in Ontario have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and are now considered fully vaccinated against the disease.
In the last 24-hour period, officials said 210,638 doses of the vaccine were administered to Ontario residents, marking the highest number of shots given in a single day so far in the province.
Just over 12 million vaccine doses have been administered in the province since the rollout began earlier this year.
Today, Health Minister Christine Elliott announced that over 20 per cent of all Ontarians over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated.
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
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.