Ontario reports 68 more COVID-19 deaths as hospitalizations drop to 3,535
Ontario health officials reported 68 additional deaths related to COVID-19 while hospitalizations dropped again on Friday.
Of the deaths logged on Friday, 67 took place over the past 13 days – 36 of which occurred this week – according to the spokesperson for Ontario’s Health Minister. In addition, one death happened more than a month ago.
Fourteen deaths reported on Friday were among long-term care residents, according to the province’s epidemiology report.
The province has reported 1,103 deaths related to COVID-19 this month, however, some occurred earlier and were disclosed by the province this month.
Health officials said 3,535 people in hospital have tested positive for COVID-19, including 607 people in intensive care units (ICU).
The province also reported that of those hospitalized, 55 per cent are seeking care due to COVID-19, while the remaining patients were admitted to the hospital for unrelated reasons and tested positive for the virus.
In intensive care, 82 per cent of patients were admitted for COVID-19.
Of the 607 people in ICU, the Ministry of Health said that 231 were considered fully vaccinated with two doses. The remaining patients were either not fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
Meanwhile, Ontario is reporting 5,337 new COVID-19 cases, but health officials have warned that number is an underestimate due to restricted testing.
With 32,672 tests processed in the last 24-hours, Ontario is reporting a test positivity rate of 14.4 per cent.
The majority of infections were identified in the Greater Toronto Area. Officials are reporting 845 new cases in Toronto, 690 in Peel Region, 307 new cases in York Region and 225 new cases in Durham Region. Officials reported 343 new cases in Ottawa.
The province is recording 196 residents in long-term care homes have COVID-19 along with 70 staff members.
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
Ontario woman says daughter was discriminated against over face mask
An Ontario woman believes her daughter was discriminated against after she was allegedly kicked out of a local activity centre over her choice to wear a face mask.

Price of gas remains high across Canada heading into long weekend
Canadians may find a lot of long faces at the pump heading into the long weekend as gas prices across the country remain high.
'Hurts like hell': What goes into the price of gas in Canada
With the price of gas rising above $2 per litre and setting new records in Canada this year, CTVNews.ca looks at what goes into the price per litre of gasoline and where the situation could go from here.
'This is an unusual situation': Feds monitoring monkeypox cases in Canada
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the federal government is monitoring monkeypox cases and their chains of transmission after two cases were confirmed in this country.
'Fight for a stronger Alberta': Kenney comments for first time since announcing resignation
Premier Jason Kenney spoke publicly Friday for the first time since dropping the bombshell announcement that he plans to step down as UCP leader and premier of Alberta.
WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox cases cross 100 in Europe
The World Health Organization was due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after more than 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe.
Decision to ban Huawei and ZTE from 5G wasn't easy, PM Trudeau says
On the heels of news that Canada is banning Huawei Technologies and ZTE from participating in the country’s 5G wireless networks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the decision wasn't easy to make. The prime minister also defended the timing of the decision, saying that while it will be years before all use of products from these Chinese companies will be outlawed, it's happening before the country is even more interconnected by the next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.
Russia claims to have taken full control of Mariupol
Russia claimed to have captured Mariupol on Friday in what would be its biggest victory yet in its war with Ukraine, following a nearly three-month siege that reduced much of the strategic port city to a smoking ruin, with over 20,000 civilians feared dead.
Quebec City Halloween attacker found guilty of first-degree murder
A man who used a sword to kill and maim victims in Quebec City's historic district on Halloween night 2020 has been found guilty of murder.