Ontario reports 74 COVID-19 deaths as hospitalizations, ICU admissions drop

Hospitalizations and ICU admissions continue to fall as Ontario reports more than 70 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Health officials are reporting 2,797 people hospitalized due to the virus — down from 2,939 the previous day and reaching the lowest point since Jan. 10. The province reported more than 3,600 COVID-19 hospitalizations one week ago.

There are now 541 COVID patients in the ICU, down from 555 the day before.

According to ministry data, 56 per cent of people were admitted to hospital for the virus and 44 per cent were admitted for other reasons but have since tested positive for the virus. Of the ICU patients, 83 per cent were admitted for COVID-19 and 17 per cent tested positive in hospital.

Not including individuals with an unknown vaccination status, 44.2 per cent of ICU admissions and 26 per cent of hospitalizations are unvaccinated. This compares to 8.1 per cent of Ontarians 12 and older who have not received a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Of the 74 reported deaths, the Ministry of Health says all ocurred in the past 23 days and 32 occurred over the previous three days.

As of Thursday, 92 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 89.3 per cent have received two doses.


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.


Health officials also reported 4,098 new cases but Public Health Ontario has said the number of infections is much higher due to changes to the province’s testing policy.

Ontario’s top doctor is set to hold a news conference on the pandemic on Thursday afternoon, his first since public health restrictions began to ease this week.

Dr. Kieran Moore’s afternoon briefing comes after Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table’s latest modelling that suggests the worst of the current Omicron wave has passed but hospitalizations will remain high in the coming months due to the easing of public health measures.

Indoor dining at restaurants and bars, gyms and cinemas reopened at 50 per cent capacity on Monday after being shuttered for nearly a month. Limits on indoor gatherings have increased from five to 10 people, while outdoor gatherings go up from 10 to 25.

Premier Doug Ford has continuously expressed his desire to move beyond lockdowns this week. He said his government is working to ensure the healthcare system can handle any future surge of COVID-19 to avoid shutting things down again.

Ford’s recent comments are in line with Moore, who last Thursday said it’s time to “learn to live with COVID-19.”

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