Ontario reports over 9,000 COVID-19 cases, 8 new patients in the ICU

Dr. David Jacobs says instead of focusing on COVID cases, we should closely measure other metrics like how many people are in the ICU. Maleeha Sheikh also hears from an epidemiologist who says the number of COVID cases still matter.

By Lucas Casaletto

Virus-related ICU admissions have increased slightly in the province as Ontario reports over 9,000 new COVID-19 cases for the fourth-straight day.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says Ontario recorded 9,418 infections on Monday. The province confirmed 9,826 COVID-19 cases Sunday, marking the second-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic. Of Monday’s new cases, 49 are confirmed as the Omicron variant, while 266 infections are Delta.

There were five deaths, including seven reported on Christmas. One person in Ontario has died as a result of the Omicron variant. Just under 1,900 cases are now considered resolved, an increase of 5.7 per cent.

Toronto reported the highest number of cases in the province, with 2,763. Peel reported just under 1,000 new infections (934) while York Region reported 887.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases provincewide is now at 7,550. It was 2,863 one week ago and up from 821 at the start of December.

Elliott says 480 people are hospitalized with the virus, and 176 people are in ICU due to COVID-19 — an increase from 164 one week ago. The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 related patients in ICU is 168. 

The complete data set, including more information on testing volumes and deaths in Ontario, won’t be released until Wednesday due to the holidays. The province completed 72,639 tests on Christmas Eve — the highest tally in almost a year since January 16.

Just over 45,000 vaccine doses were administered on Boxing Day after 106,000 doses were allocated to eligible residents on Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

Elliott says 90.7 per cent of eligible Ontarians aged 12 and older have one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 88 per cent have two shots.

Experts have said there might be more cases than reported because many public health units have reached their testing capacity. Mounting COVID-19 across the country has renewed concerns about the capability of Canada’s hospitals and healthcare workers to handle another wave of the pandemic.

Public health experts expect case counts to continue to climb, given the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant. Several provinces have asked people to get tested only if they have symptoms as hospitals and centres have reached their testing limits meaning there are likely far more cases than reported.

Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table says people ought to reconsider large gatherings with New Year’s celebrations on the horizon.

“If you do gather, keep them very small and attend as few as possible (and do not attend if you have any symptoms of COVID-19). If you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19, use rapid tests (if available) immediately before any indoor gatherings and self-isolate if positive,” the science table wrote.

“Remember that a negative rapid test does not mean you do not have COVID-19 and other layers of protection need to be used.”


With files from Nick Westoll of CityNews and The Canadian Press

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