Ontario reports record-breaking 2,472 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 338 ICU admissions
Ontario health officials are reporting another increase on Friday in the number of people with COVID-19 in hospital and intensive care units across the province.
The province reported that the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 rose from 2,279 on Thursday to a record-breaking 2,472 on Friday, while intensive care unit (ICU) admissions jumped from 319 to 338.
Previously, the highest total number of people in hospital with COVID-19 was 2,360 on Apr. 20, 2021.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said the seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 related patients in ICU is 271, a number that has been steadily rising for days now.
The province said that of the 338 people in the ICU with COVID-19, 232 are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status and 106 are fully vaccinated.
According to data released by the Ontario Science Table on Thursday, which takes into account population sizes, people who are fully vaccinated with at least two doses are 79.8 per cent less likely to end up in hospital and 93.3 per cent less likely to end up in ICU compared to people who are unvaccinated.
During previous COVID-19 waves, health officials have said that it becomes nearly impossible to provide non-COVID-19-related medical care once there are more than 300 patients in the ICU.
According to health officials, 43 more deaths related to COVID-19 were reported in the last 24 hours. The province noted that 42 of those deaths occurred over the span of the last 10 days, and one death occurred over a month ago.
The province reported 11,899 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, but health officials have warned that number is an underestimate due to testing limitations and backlogs.
With 61,137 tests processed in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health says the province's positivity rate is about 26.6 per cent.
Of the 11,899 case reported Friday, 9,515 involve people who are fully vaccinated, 1,543 are people who are unvaccinated, 375 involve people who are partially vaccinated and 466 had an unknown vaccination status.
Acknowledging population size, the science table noted on Thursday, people who are fully vaccinated with at least two doses are 21.1 per cent less likely to contract COVID-19 compared to those who are unvaccinated.
The province deemed 11,946 more cases of the disease to be resolved as of Friday, bringing Ontario's number of recovered patients up to 707,732.
Today's report brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Ontario to 853,270, including deaths and recoveries.
WHERE ARE THE NEW COVID-19 CASES IN ONTARIO
In the Greater Toronto Area, officials reported 2,405 new cases in Toronto, 1,745 new cases in Peel Region, 965 new cases in York Region, 742 new cases in Halton Region and 425 new cases in Durham Region.
Officials reported 656 new cases in Ottawa, 564 new cases in Waterloo region, 508 new cases in Simcoe Muskoka and 543 new cases in Windsor-Essex.
All other regions reported fewer than 500 new cases on Friday.
According to the province’s epidemiology report, of the 11,899 new infections reported on Friday, 741 cases were identified in children under the age of 12.
The province also recorded 874 cases in youth between the ages of 12 and 19 and another cases 4,837 in people between the ages of 20 and 39.
As well, officials found 3,511 cases in people between the ages of 40 and 59, 1,380 cases in people between the ages of 60 and 79 and 547 cases in people over the age of 80.
Hospitalizations involving children continue to rise in Ontario, particularly in children under the age of five. Public Health Ontario says that as of Wednesday, there were 43 children between the ages of zero and four hospitalized with COVID-19.
The province reported 191 resident cases and 65 staff cases in long-term care settings across Ontario. It also noted that seven of the 43 deaths reported on Friday were long-term care residents.
Officials stated that at least 312 long-term care homes are currently dealing with an outbreak.
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
Solar storm puts on brilliant light show across the globe, but no serious problems reported
A powerful solar storm put on an amazing skyward light show across the globe overnight but has caused what appeared to be only minor disruptions to the electric power grid, communications and satellite positioning systems.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
'Increased fire activity' expected for Fort Nelson, B.C., blaze
A wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., that forced thousands to flee their homes grew almost 800 hectares overnight Saturday, according to officials.
Blinken delivers some of the strongest U.S. public criticism of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday delivered some of the Biden administration's strongest public criticism yet of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, saying Israeli tactics have meant "a horrible loss of life of innocent civilians" but failed to neutralize Hamas leaders and fighters and could drive a lasting insurgency.