More than 3,600 hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, 35 new deaths
Posted January 13, 2022 10:31 am.
Last Updated January 13, 2022 11:45 am.
Ontario COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached a new pandemic high as the province reports 35 new virus-related deaths.
There are 3,630 people in the hospital with the virus, that compares to 3,448 reported one day ago.
There are also 500 COVID-19 patients in the ICU, down slightly from 505 one day ago. The rolling seven-day average of ICU admissions now sits at 435.
The province advised on Tuesday they have updated their COVID-19 reporting to distinguish patients hospitalized for the virus and those admitted for other reasons.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says 54 per cent were admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 and 46 per cent were admitted for other reasons but have since tested positive for the virus. For those in the ICU, 82 per cent were admitted for the virus and 18 per cent tested positive after being admitted for other reasons.
Among ICU admissions with a known vaccination status, nearly 50 per cent are not fully vaccinated. This compares to 11.4 per cent of Ontarians that have not received two doses.
Data from the Ministry of Health
As of Thursday, 91.2 per cent of Ontarians 12 and older have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 88.6 per cent are fully vaccinated. The province administered more than 164,000 vaccine doses in the last 24-hour period.
Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday that Ontario will not be following Québec’s lead and fining people who remain unvaccinated against the virus. Dr. Kieran Moore echoed the premier’s sentiments saying Québec’s plan strikes him as punitive.
“We have not made the recommendation to the government, ever, throughout this pandemic. It’s not one that we would bring forward. It does in my mind seem punitive,” said Moore.
Moore was forced to walk back comments he made Wednesday after he was asked about lower vaccine uptake for children between five and 11 years old and if there should be a mandate. He said the province would not mandate the pediatric vaccine since it is too new.
That sparked some to claim the chief medical officer was playing to anti-vaxxers.
“I want to be clear that the pediatric Pfizer vaccine for children five to 11 is safe, effective, and provides strong protection against COVID-19 and variants,” Moore clarified in a statement.
Below is the number of new COVID-19 infections and tests in Ontario. Cases are likely much higher due to changes in testing strategy across the province. More information on these changes can be found here.
Ontario is also reporting 9,909 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.
There were 58,831 tests completed in the last 24-hour period for a positivity rate of 21.4 per cent.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce provided an update Wednesday on the province’s back to school plan. The Ministry of Education announced that principals at Ontario schools will only be required to report COVID-19 outbreaks to Public Health Units when absenteeism rates among students and staff hit a 30 per cent threshold.
Lecce clarified that parents will still have access to outbreak data through the province’s website.
The province also revealed that students and staff will each get two rapid tests to use if they develop COVID-19 symptoms at school.
