Ontario reports more than 1,600 new COVID-19 cases

Ontario is reporting 1,607 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday — the highest number of daily infections the province has seen in more than six months.

The rolling seven-day average of new cases is now 1,194, up nearly 300 cases from one week ago. The province reported 1,053 new cases last Saturday.

This Saturday’s case count is the highest since May 23 and eclipses the fourth wave high of 1,453 new infections reported a day earlier.

The province is also reporting five additional deaths due to the virus.

There were over 42,000 tests completed in the last 24-hour period for a test positivity rate of 4.6 per cent — it marks the highest positivity rate since May 26.

There are currently 323 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and 146 in the ICU — among those in the ICU, 121 are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.

As cases surge, hospitalizations and ICU numbers have remained relatively steady across the province thanks to vaccination efforts. The last time the province reported more than 1,600 cases in late May, hospitalizations were hovering around 1,000 and ICU patients were nearly 600.

Ontarians who are not fully vaccinated represent just over 23 per cent of the province’s population and account for over 40 per cent of the new cases — 83 cases are in individuals with an unknown vaccination status. Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or people with an unknown status make up over 80 per cent of the current COVID ICU patients.

Ontario announced Friday it is expanding COVID-19 booster shot eligibility to all adults aged 18 and over starting on Jan. 4. Eligible residents will be able to book an appointment provided they are six months past a second dose.

The province also confirmed Friday it would not be phasing out vaccine certificates in some settings next month as originally planned.

The province’s proof-of-vaccination system will also be updated on Jan. 4 so that the certificate equipped with a QR code is the only version accepted.