Ontario reports 16 COVID deaths as ICU numbers continue to fall

Ontario is reporting 16 additional COVID-19 deaths on Saturday as patients in critical care with the virus continue to fall.

The province is reporting 185 patients in the ICU, down from 193 a day ago and from 226 a week ago. The number of people in the ICU have fallen to the lowest point since late December.

According to Ministry of Health data, 79 per cent of patients were admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 and 21 per cent were admitted for other reasons but have since tested positive.

Hospitalizations fell slightly to 613 from 615 a day ago. That number is down from 722 one week ago.

Of the deaths reported, 13 occurred in the previous 30 days and three were added from more than a month ago due to a data catch-up.

The province is reporting 2,078 new cases of COVID-19 — a number that is underreported due to changes in the testing policies. The province’s top doctor has estimated actual case numbers could be 10 times what is being reported.

There were 12,180 tests completed in the last 24-hour period for a test positivity rate of 13.3 per cent. It marks the highest positivity rate the province has seen since early February.

As of Monday, masks will no longer be required in schools, grocery stores, malls, or other indoor areas. Masking requirements will remain for public transit, long-term care, retirement homes and healthcare settings, congregate care settings, shelters, jails and homes for individuals with developmental disabilities.

All remaining mask rules will be lifted on April 27, and remaining emergency orders and directives will be removed or expire.

The province’s chief medical officer of health rejected proposals to extend mask mandates at schools in multiple regions, including at the Toronto District School Board facilities, in favour of asking staff and students to adhere to provincial guidelines.

The TDSB said it would stick to Dr. Kieran Moore’s recommendation last week despite asking for an extension on a masking mandate. On Thursday, the TDSB confirmed that Moore declined that extension, reiterating his previous decision to lift the public health measure starting next week.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustees voted to keep the mandate in place for two more weeks despite the province’s rejection of other school boards to do the same.