Ontario reports 19 COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations down 700 from one week ago

Ontario is reporting 19 additional COVID-19 deaths as ICU admissions and hospitalizations continue on a downward trajectory.

There are 1,550 people in hospital due to the virus while the number of patients in ICU now sits at 384. Hospitalizations are actually up from the previous day, however health officials point out not all hospitals report their data on the weekend so Monday’s total is usually lower.

Hospitalizations are down more than 700 from one week ago.

According to the Ministry of Health, 79.5 per cent of patients admitted to the ICU were admitted for COVID-19 and 20.5 per cent were admitted for other reasons but have since tested positive.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Health

Of the 19 new deaths, all occurred over the past 24 days and 11 occurred in the previous three days.

Provincial health officials are reporting 1,593 new cases on Monday. Officials warn that number is underreported following changes to the province’s testing policy.

Premier Doug Ford announced the accelerated reopening and end to vaccine certificate requirements in a news conference on Monday morning, alongside chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore.

Both Ford and Moore also pointed to improving COVID indicators and the vaccination rate as the reasoning for speeding up the reopening. They also cited the province’s test positivity rate, which has gone from over 30 per cent to around 12 per cent since the start of January.

Capacity limits at indoor settings in Ontario, like gyms and restaurants, will now be lifted at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday. The province’s proof of vaccination requirement will come to an end on March 1, coinciding with the lifting of almost all other public health measures and capacity restrictions.

Masking requirements will remain for the time being but the province says a timeline for the end of masks will be provided soon.