Ontario reports increase in new COVID-19 cases, 7-day average now over 800

Ontario reported 780 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as the seven-day average continues its daily accession at 821 as of the most recent count.

There are five additional deaths, with 155 patients recovering in ICU, 90 on a ventilator, along with a 3.1 per cent positivity rate. The province confirmed 965 cases are now considered resolved.

“Individuals who are not fully vaccinated represent 23.5 per cent of Ontario’s total population and amount to 393 of Ontario’s 780 new reported cases,” Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted.

“51 cases are in individuals with an unknown vaccination status.”

Elliott says of the 155 ICU patients currently recovering from the virus, 133 are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status, while 22 are fully immunized.

The growth in Ontario’s seven-day average is notable considering where it was one month ago. On Nov. 1, the province reported a seven-day rolling average of 362. One week ago, the number had increased to 686.

DEC 1: #COVID19 in #Ontario
780 cases, 5* deaths, 965 resolved,
35364 tests/day, 16736 pending, 3.1% pos
155 in ICU (90 on ventilator)????

See thread for more graphs????⤵️#onhealth #COVID19ontario pic.twitter.com/qZt6BTBCRs

— Dr. Jennifer Kwan (@jkwan_md) December 1, 2021

There were 687 cases reported yesterday, a recent anomaly as Ontario saw 788 infections on Monday, 964 on Sunday and 854 on Saturday.

Ontario reached 10,000 COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, the province recorded 185 new cases in schools — 167 are positive cases in students. There are now 13 outbreak-related school closures in Ontario. Just under 16 per cent of schools (763) are reporting at least one case of COVID-19.

Most cumulative cases in Ontario are in those under 20, with just over 2,000 confirmed to date.

Toronto’s public health unit reported 96 cases on Wednesday after seeing over 100 daily infections in consecutive days. There are 38 new cases in Peel Region, 37 in York Region, and 26 in Halton. Elsewhere, the Windsor-Essex health unit is reporting 88 new COVID-19 cases, with Simcoe-Muskoka confirming 64 additional infections.

Durham’s public health unit recorded 37 daily cases with 33 new infections in Hamilton. Ottawa’s public health unit reported a significant increase with 44 new cases — up from only 16 a day ago.

Nearly 89.9 per cent of Ontarians 12-and-up have one vaccine dose, and roughly 86.4 per cent have two doses.

Modelling from Ontario’s science table has indicated that the number of patients in intensive care may rise to 200 by the new year. The province’s top doctor has also said he expects COVID-19 cases to continue growing through the winter.

Dr. Kieran Moore and government ministers have said the province will wait to learn more about the new omicron variant of concern — of which four cases have been reported in Ontario — before pausing plans to start lifting more public health restrictions as early as January.

Moore and Elliott both said earlier this week an update on the province’s booster rollout is expected sometime soon, perhaps are early as Friday.

As things stand, individuals 70-and-up are eligible for booster shots, as well as anyone who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“We have taken every precaution possible,” Elliott said Tuesday when asked about the omicron variant during question period.

“We are ready for whatever might happen. We have a very robust testing strategy.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the global risk from the omicron variant of the coronavirus is “very high” based on early evidence, warning of the possibility of future surges with “severe consequences.”

Federal cabinet ministers warn Canadians that COVID-19 travel rules and border rules may change as scientists learn more about the new omicron variant.

Yesterday, the government expanded a ban on foreign travellers to include those who recently travelled through three more African countries.