Ontario COVID-19 hospitalizations reach 8 month high, 14 more deaths
Posted January 5, 2022 10:39 am.
Last Updated January 5, 2022 6:00 pm.
Ontario saw a large jump in COVID-19 hospitalizations on Wednesday, reaching levels not seen since the peak of the third wave.
There are now 2,081 people in the hospital due to the virus, up from 1,290 a day ago. The province is over 2,000 hospitalizations for the first time since early May.
There were another 14 virus-related deaths reported on Wednesday.
The Ontario Hospital Association says there are 282 adult patients in ICU, up from 266 a day ago. The seven-day rolling average of patients in the ICU now sits at 235. There are 137 COVID-19 ICU patients on ventilators.
Among the ICU patients, 70 per cent are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status, and 48.4 per cent of hospitalizations are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown status. That compares to just 11.8 per cent of Ontarians 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated.
As of Wednesday, nearly 91 per cent of Ontarians 12 and older have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and more than 88 per cent have both doses.
The province has now administered more than four million booster doses and 27.5 per cent of Ontarians have received a third dose.
Ontario is also reporting 11,582 new COVID-19 cases but Public Health Ontario warns the number of infections is likely much higher due to the province’s testing capacity and accessibility.
Access to PCR testing is restricted to individuals in high-risk settings or those with severe illness.
There were still more than 59,000 tests were processed in the last 24-hour period for a test positivity rate of 28 per cent.
Hospitals in the province have been ordered to pause all non-urgent surgeries to free up staff to cover absences and the rising number of hospitalized virus patients.
The latest round of public health measures took effect on Wednesday with several businesses including cinemas, gyms, theatres and restaurants closing for indoor activities.
Most students in the province will take part in virtual learning until at least Jan. 17, while most other measures, including business closures, are slated to last at least 21 days.
