Ontario sees slight easing of COVID hospitalizations amid 6th wave spike

Ontario’s hospitals have seen a slight day-over-day easing in COVID-19-related admissions as the province deals with the sixth wave of cases.

According to the Ontario government’s data reporting on Wednesday, 1,074 patients were in hospitals across the province on Tuesday because of COVID-19, with 168 people in intensive care units. There were 1,091 people in hospitals and 173 were in ICUs on that day, but ICU admissions have been cited as a lagging indicator due to the progression of the virus.

Officials also reported 32 more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total number to 12,511. However, 10 out of the 32 deaths happened within the last month while the other 22 happened earlier.

There were also 3,444 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported on Wednesday, elevating the cumulative total of lab-confirmed cases to 1,180,121. But with restricted eligibility for PCR testing, the day-over-day number is believed to be an underrepresentation of the total number of COVID-19 cases in the province.

RELATED: Ontarians 60+ eligible for 4th COVID vaccine dose starting Thursday

Meanwhile, the Ontario government outlined its criteria for expanding access to fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses Wednesday morning.

As of 7 a.m. on Thursday, people who are 60 and older as well as Indigenous individuals and non-Indigenous people 18 and older who live in the household, will be able to book a vaccine online or call the provincial vaccine contact line at 1-833-943-3900.

Officials said a fourth dose can be taken at a minimum of five months after the third dose.

As of Wednesday, 59 per cent of eligible Ontario residents 18 and older have received their third vaccine dose despite pleas from officials to get the booster dose in an effort to help prevent severe complications from the virus.