Ontario reports fewer than 150 new COVID-19 cases, 7 additional deaths
Health officials in Ontario are reporting fewer than 150 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday and seven additional deaths linked to the disease.
The 146 new infections mark an increase over Monday’s total when 114 were logged, which was the lowest daily case count reported since Sept. 1.
The seven additional COVID-19-related deaths bring Ontario’s death toll to 9,258.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the province has recorded 547,409 COVID-19 infections. Of those cases, 536,603 are considered to be resolved.
The seven-day average for the number of cases reported sits at 170. A week ago, that number was 203.
With 17,489 tests processed in the last 24 hours, the province says that Ontario’s COVID-19 positivity rate is 0.8 per cent.
Right now, the province is reporting 173 patients in hospital with COVID-19. At least 192 of those patients are being treated in intensive care and 123 are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator. The discrepancy in patient data may be explained by a delay in hospital reporting.
Where are the new COVID-19 cases?
Most of the cases reported Tuesday were found in Toronto (43), Waterloo (36), Peel Region (13), and Middlesex-London (10).
At least 15 of the province’s 34 public health units reported no new cases of COVID-19.
The province is set to enter Step 3 of its reopening plan on Friday, which will see all of Ontario operating under the loosest set of public health restrictions in months.
Update on COVID-19 variants of concern
Another 121 cases of COVID-19 variants of concern were reported by Ontario health officials in the last 24 hours.
Of those cases, 31 were of the Alpha variant B.1.1.7, bringing the total number of infections related to that strain to 144,745.
Eight cases of the Beta variant B.1.351 were also detected, which brings its case total to 1,448.
There were 41 new cases reported of both the Gamma variant P.1 and Delta variant B.1.617.2, pushing their case totals to 4,859 and 2,752 respectively.
More than 7 million Ontarians fully vaccinated
The province announced Tuesday that more than seven million residents are now fully vaccinated.
Some 176,000 needles went into arms yesterday alone.
In total, 17,296,458 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across Ontario since December.
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
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.