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
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
What Michael Cohen said on the stand in Trump hush money case
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
A child killer legally changed his name in B.C. The province is trying to stop that from happening again
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Behind the barricades: How protesters spend their first days in a new encampment
Students in Montreal describe life in a newly erected encampment in Montreal as a whirlwind of preparations, from facing rain and a potential police crackdown to setting up a space for the exchange of ideas.
Next 48 hours will be 'extremely challenging' for B.C. wildfire crews near Fort Nelson: officials
A wildfire burning dangerously close to Fort Nelson, B.C., has grown to more than 50 square kilometres, and officials are warning that the blaze's behaviour is expected to become more volatile over the next 48 hours.