Ontario reports 3,814 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 527 patients in ICU
Ontario is reporting a record-breaking number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on Friday as well as 42 more deaths related to the disease.
There are now 3,814 people in Ontario hospitals who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, an increase of more than 180 from the day before. Just over half of those patients, approximately 53 per cent, were admitted as a result of their COVID-19 diagnosis.
There are also 527 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, up from 500 the previous day. According to provincial data, about 80 per cent of those patients were admitted as a result of COVID-19.
The other 20 per cent tested positive for the disease after being admitted for other ailments.
According to Health Minister Christine Elliott, 384 of the patients in intensive care are either not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.
Meanwhile, the province is reporting 10,964 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases, although experts warn this number is an underestimation due to a lack in COVID-19 testing.
Forty-two more deaths were also confirmed in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in Ontario since the beginning of the pandemic to 10,522. Eleven of Friday’s deaths were residents of long-term care.
With just over 58,600 COVID-19 tests processed in the last 24-hour period, the Ministry of Health says the province’s positivity rate now stands at about 21.8 per cent.
In total, there have been 926,904 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario, including deaths and recoveries.
WHERE ARE THE COVID-19 CASES?
The majority of Friday’s infections are found in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
According to the province’s epidemiology report, there are 1,961 COVID-19 cases in Toronto, 1,561 in Peel Region, 1,054 in Durham and 918 in York Region.
There were also 633 cases in Halton and 604 in Hamilton.
Other municipalities that logged more than 400 infections include Waterloo (613) and Ottawa (453).
Nine public health units reported more than 100 COVID-19 cases on Friday.
Of the nearly 11,000 infections, 276 were identified in long-term care residents and 126 were found in health-care workers.
According to provincial data, just over 1,800 of Friday’s infections were identified in people who were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. There were 8,518 infections in people with at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and 623 cases whose vaccination status is unknown.
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
Defence minister says Canada supports U.S. downing of Chinese balloon
The federal defence Minister says Canada 'unequivocally supports' the United States government's decision to shoot down a high-altitude surveillance balloon that was suspected of spying for China, noting the balloon violated Canadian airspace.

U.S. downs Chinese balloon, drawing a threat from China
The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian aircraft and threatened repercussions.
Former Israeli PM: Putin promised not to kill Zelenskyy
A former Israeli prime minister who served briefly as a mediator at the start of Russia's war with Ukraine says he drew a promise from the Russian president not to kill his Ukrainian counterpart.
New study highlights increasing prevalence of muscle dysmorphia among Canadian boys, young men
Canadian researchers are drawing attention to the increasing prevalence of 'a pathological pursuit of muscularity' among Canadian boys and young men, with a new study that found one in four were at risk of developing what's known as muscle dysmorphia.
Justice minister open to amending bail laws, OPP commissioner says change 'needed now'
Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti says he is open to amending bail laws, which have come under increased scrutiny following the shooting death of an Ontario Provincial Police officer.
China says it strongly opposes U.S. move to shoot down balloon
China's foreign ministry said on Sunday that it expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition towards the United States' use of force to attack its airship.
Poor oral health could affect the brain later in life: early study
An early study has shown keeping your gums and teeth healthy may have added benefits for your brain health.
'It's devastating': Homeless Canadians at risk as Eastern Canada endures extreme cold, advocates say
As the majority of Eastern Canada stays indoors during an extreme cold weather alert, homeless shelters are struggling to keep up with the demand from unhoused people as temperatures continue to drop.
Extreme cold can bring frostbite and hypothermia. Here are the symptoms to watch for
Canadians will continue to bundle up in the country's east this weekend as a recent bout of extreme cold persists in much of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. CTVNews.ca looks at the signs and symptoms for frostbite and hypothermia to watch for if exposed to extreme cold.