Ontario's top doctor says COVID-19 hospital, ICU admissions to peak this week
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says he’s cautiously optimistic that the worst of the sixth COVID-19 wave will be over soon as hospitalizations are expected to peak in the coming days.
Moore told CTV News on Friday that wastewater and the limited PCR test positivity data suggested the case count peak happened on April 10, but the peak for hospital admissions is expected to take place this week.
“That rise in hospitalization naturally occurs after that maximum number of cases, and then the last piece is an impact on the intensive care units,” Moore said.
“We expect all of that major impact to occur in the next seven to 10 days, and then slowly and surely the risk will decrease heading in to the end of May … I am cautiously optimistic.”
By June, Moore said he expects that majority of the cases will be back down to a “very low endemic risk” across Ontario.
Health officials reported on Friday there are at least 1,591 patients in Ontario hospitals with COVID-19, and 214 people in ICU.
The province also announced on Friday it will extend its remaining mask mandate in high-risk settings until June 11 as the province deals in response to the sixth wave.
Experts have said the sixth wave has been caused by the roll-back of COVID-19 restrictions and mandates, and due to the spread of the B.A.2 variant of the virus.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
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.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.