Ontario logs 780 new COVID-19 cases as seven-day average continues to rise
Health officials reported an additional 780 new COVID-19 cases in Ontario on Wednesday, as well as six more deaths related to the disease.
For the most part, Ontario has seen more than 700 infections daily over the last week, with Tuesday being the exception with 687 cases.
There were 788 COVID-19 cases reported Monday, 964 on Sunday and 854 on Saturday.
As a result, Ontario's seven-day rolling average of daily infections continues to rise, standing at about 821 on Wednesday. This represents a significant increase from the previous week when that number was 692.
The last time the seven-day average was this high was on June 4.
With just over 35,300 tests processed in the last 24 hours, the province's positivity rate is about 3.1 per cent.
Six deaths were logged in the last 24 hours, but provincial officials say that one death was also removed from the total count due to data cleaning, bringing the tally to 10,005.
There are currently at least 155 people being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units. Health Minister Christine Elliott says that of those patients, 133 are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.
Other vaccination data is not available today due to technical difficulties, the province said.
There have been 619,270 lab-confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Ontario since the beginning of the pandemic, including deaths and recoveries.
WHERE ARE THE COVID-19 CASES?
The public health units reporting the highest number of COVID-19 infections on Wednesday include Toronto (98), Windsor-Essex (88) and Simcoe-Muskoka (64).
According to the province's epidemiology report, there were 56 cases in Sudbury and it's districts, 44 in Ottawa, 43 in Waterloo, 37 in Durham Region, 33 in Hamilton and 32 in Kingston.
All other municipalities reported fewer than 30 infections.
The data shows that 180 COVID-19 cases were logged in people under the age of 12, with an additional 61 infections in people between the ages of 12 and 19.
On Wednesday, officials logged 185 school-related cases. Of those infections, 167 were identified in students. Thirteen schools in Ontario are closed as a result of COVID-19.
Forty-three cases were confirmed in child-care centres and homes in Ontario, with 32 infections logged in children. Fifteen facilities are closed.
There were 214 cases in people between the ages of 20 and 39, and 200 infections in people between the ages of 40 and 59.
There are 125 cases in seniors over the age of 60.
As of Tuesday, four cases of the new Omicron variant have been identified in Ontario. Canada is imposing new testing requirements on all air travellers coming from outside of Canada in an effort to curb the spread of the B.1.1.529 variant.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Solar storm puts on brilliant light show across the globe, but no serious problems reported
A powerful solar storm put on an amazing skyward light show across the globe overnight but has caused what appeared to be only minor disruptions to the electric power grid, communications and satellite positioning systems.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
'Increased fire activity' expected for Fort Nelson, B.C., blaze
A wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., that forced thousands to flee their homes grew almost 800 hectares overnight Saturday, according to officials.
Blinken delivers some of the strongest U.S. public criticism of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday delivered some of the Biden administration's strongest public criticism yet of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, saying Israeli tactics have meant "a horrible loss of life of innocent civilians" but failed to neutralize Hamas leaders and fighters and could drive a lasting insurgency.