Ontario reports 13,578 new COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations increase
Ontario health officials are reporting 13,578 new COVID-19 cases as the province plans to implement new restrictions to curb the spread of the disease and stop the increasing number of hospitalizations.
Monday’s case count comes after officials reported 16,714 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday and a record-breaking number of 18,445 new cases on Saturday.
Since Wednesday, the province has reported more than 10,000 cases each day.
Ontario's rolling seven-day average has risen to 14,074, up from 7,550 at this point last week.
Public Health Ontario has previously warned that case counts are an underestimate of the true number of infections in Ontario due to the issues with the availability of testing resources in the province.
Ontario announced sweeping new restrictions on Monday will see schools closed to in-person learning until at least Jan. 17, a ban on indoor dining, gyms shuttered and capacity limits put in place for retail.
The measures aim to blunt the latest COVID-19 wave in order to ease the pressure on hospitals.
The province recorded six new deaths due to COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total death tally in the province to 10,229.
Currently, 1,232 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 and there are 248 people in intensive care, Health Minister Christine Elliott said. She noted, however, that not all hospitals report their data on weekends so the number may be more.
On Sunday, the minister announced that 1,117 people were in hospital due to COVID-19 and 224 of those patients were in intensive care.
“Omicron isn't like the other variants. It's much much more transmissible. The math isn't on our side,” Ford told reporters on Monday. “Based on the current trends, our public health experts tell us we can see hundreds of thousands of cases every single day.”
"The evidence tells us that about one per cent of people who get Omicron will end up in the hospital … One per cent of hundreds of thousands is too many new patients for our hospitals to handle.”
Ontario also said it would pause all non-urgent surgeries starting Jan. 5 in order to prepare for a rapid increase of COVID-19 hospitalizations.
The province deemed 6,547 more cases of the disease to be resolved as of Monday, bringing Ontario's number of recovered patients up to 664,562.
Today's report brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 805,098, including deaths and recoveries.
WHERE ARE THE NEW COVID-19 CASES IN ONTARIO
In the Greater Toronto Area, officials reported 3,006 new cases in Toronto, 1,433 new cases in Peel Region, 1,260 new cases in York Region, 714 new cases in Durham Region and 411 in Halton Region.
Officials reported 995 new cases in Ottawa, 641 new cases in Middlesex-London and 543 new cases in Windsor-Essex. All other regions reported fewer than 500 new cases on Monday.
According to the province’s epidemiology report, of the 13,578 new infections reported on Monday, 1,233 cases were identified in children under the age of 12.
The province also recorded 1,308 cases in youth between the ages of 12 and 19 and another cases 5,350 in people between the ages of 20 and 39.
As well, officials found 3,902 cases in people between the ages of 40 and 59, 1,441 cases in people between the ages of 60 and 79 and 347 cases in people over the age of 80.
The province reported 85 resident cases and 26 staff cases in long-term care settings across Ontario. It also noted that one of the six new deaths were long-term care residents.
Officials stated that at least 209 long-term care homes are currently dealing with an outbreak.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a ploy to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.