Ontario reports 959 new COVID-19 cases, seven more deaths
Ontario health officials are reporting 959 new cases of COVID-19 and seven more deaths due to the disease.
This past week, officials reported 788 new cases on Monday, 687 new cases on Tuesday, and 780 new cases on Wednesday.
The last time the province reported more than 900 new infections in a single day was on Sunday.
Ontario’s rolling seven-day average now stands at 851, up from 692 at this point last week.
With 38,480 tests processed in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health says the positivity rate in the province stands at about 2.9 per cent.
Of the new infections reported Thursday, 530 cases involved people who are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown. The remaining 429 infections involved people who are fully vaccinated.
The province recorded seven more deaths on Thursday, bringing the total death tally in the province to 10,012.
There are currently at least 291 people being treated for COVID-19 in hospital. Health Minister Christine Elliott says that of those patients, 241 are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and 50 are fully vaccinated.
At least 155 patients are in intensive care in Ontario hospitals and 85 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.
The province deemed 770 more cases of the disease to be resolved as of Thursday, bringing Ontario’s number of recovered patients up to 603,285.
Today’s report brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 620,229, including deaths and recoveries.
WHERE ARE THE NEW COVID-19 CASES IN ONTARIO?
In the Greater Toronto Area, officials reported 118 new cases in Toronto, 75 new cases in Peel Region, 53 new cases in York Region, 42 new cases in Halton Region and 21 new cases in Durham Region.
Officials reported 91 new cases in Windsor-Essex, 59 new cases in Ottawa, 36 new cases in the Kingston area, 35 new cases in Algoma District and 32 new cases each in Niagara Region and the Sudbury area. All other regions reported fewer than 30 new cases.
According to the province’s epidemiology report, of the 959 new infections reported on Thursday, 222 cases were identified in children under the age of 12.
The province also recorded 83 cases in youth between the ages of 12 and 19 and another 285 cases in people between the ages of 20 and 39.
As well, officials found 237 cases in people between the ages of 40 and 59, 119 cases in people between the ages of 60 and 79 and 11 cases in people over the age of 80.
On Thursday, officials reported 164 new cases in Ontario schools, including 148 cases involving students and 15 cases involving staff. Officials did not release information about the remaining one case.
The province reported that 761 out of 4,844 schools have at least one case of COVID-19. Currently, 10 schools are closed due to outbreaks.
As of Thursday, five cases of the new Omicron variant have been identified in Ontario. The latest case was reported in Durham Region.
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. Health experts have said the number of COVID-19 infections identified in fully vaccinated individuals will naturally increase as more people get both of their shots.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
'Nobody should be getting away with murder': Grieving mother speaks out after son killed in North Preston, N.S.
A grieving mother is speaking out after her 36-year-old son was shot and killed in North Preston, N.S., Wednesday night.