Ontario sees highest ever daily COVID-19 case count

Ontario is reporting 5,790 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.

The infections reported on Thursday eclipse the more than 4,800 cases that were reported on Apr. 16, the province’s previous daily high. It is more than double the 2,421 cases reported on Thursday last week.

There were 68,191 tests completed in the last 24-hour period for a test positivity rate of 16 per cent. It is the highest positivity rate the province has seen — the previous high was 10.9 per cent on Apr. 26.

While hospitalizations and ICU numbers have risen in recent weeks, the numbers remain significantly lower than the last time Ontario was seeing record case counts. There are more than 440 people currently hospitalized in the province compared to nearly 2,000 on Apr. 16.

There are 169 people in the ICU due to COVID-19 — an increase of one from a day ago.

Ontario is also reporting seven additional deaths as a result of the virus.

Related: Omicron less likely to put you in the hospital, studies say

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated represent 22.8 per cent of the province’s population. Those not fully vaccinated or with an unknown status make up 24.1 per cent of Thursday’s new cases, 69 per cent of hospitalizations and 81.1 per cent of ICU patients.

The province administered more than 250,000 vaccine doses in the last day. Among Ontarians 12 and older, 90.6 per cent have received at least one dose and 87.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Locally, there are 1,527 new cases in Toronto, 491 in Peel Region, 470 in York Region, 334 in Durham Region and 259 in Halton Region. There were another 1,659 resolved infections across the province.

The rolling seven-day average of new cases has eclipsed 4,000 for the first time since april. The weekly average stayed higher than that mark for 12 days from Apr. 14 to Apr. 25.

At the current rate of increasing case counts, the rolling average is set to double every five to six days.

Related: Ontario opens new mass vaccination clinic in Mississauga

The province’s top doctor said Tuesday that Ontario is preparing to change its approach to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as the Omicron variant strains resources, with residents being warned they could face long waits for tests.

The head of the Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Association of Ontario says lab workers are putting in long hours and being asked to cancel vacation plans to handle the major surge in COVID-19 tests. The group is calling on the provincial government to better support the workers.

The Ford government announced new economic support measures on Wednesday for businesses affected by the latest round of pandemic restrictions.

The new ‘Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program’ will give eligible businesses rebate payments that are equal to 50 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while the latest restrictions remain in effect. The province is also introducing a six-month “interest-and penalty-free period” for affected businesses.

The province announced the further restrictions on capacity and social gathering limits on Friday to combat surging COVID-19 cases brought on by the Omicron variant.

The new rules went into effect on Sunday and bring a 50 per cent capacity limit to most indoor settings, including restaurants, bars, personal care services, gyms, and most retailers.