COVID hospitalizations up nearly 20% week-over-week, Ontario reports 2 new deaths
Posted April 18, 2022 10:42 am.
Last Updated April 18, 2022 11:00 am.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario are up nearly 20 per cent week-over-week as the province reports two additional deaths from the virus over the past two days.
Provincial officials are reporting 1,301 people in hospital with the virus, up from 1,090 last week and 1,290 on Sunday. Officials warn that not all hospitals report numbers over the weekend so Monday’s numbers are typically lower than the rest of the week.
There are also 202 people in the ICU with 91 on a ventilator. ICU numbers are up from 184 on the same day last week have climbed over 200 for the first time since mid-March.
The province is reporting 2,219 new cases on Monday and 2,450 new cases on Sunday after not reporting numbers on Easter Sunday. The actual number of infections is estimated to be signifcantly higher due to the province’s testing capacity.
Ontario also saw two additional deaths on Monday and no new deaths on Sunday.
There were 10,060 tests completed in the last day for a test positivity rate of 18.7 per cent.
#Covid19Ontario daily cases vs. total current hospitalizations pic.twitter.com/2NawpaRyEO
— Dr. Jennifer Kwan (@jkwan_md) April 18, 2022
Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table released new modelling last week, confirming that the province is well into the sixth wave while suggesting that there remains considerable uncertainty over case growth.
Wastewater signals suggest sixth wave transmission may have already peaked in the province, but the advisers said it’s unclear if the apparent crest will be followed by an increase, a decrease or a continued plateau after the Easter long weekend.
The modelling suggests hospitalizations and ICU admissions will continue rising but it’s unlikely they will reach levels seen earlier this year during the fifth wave of the pandemic.
Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore will recommend that the province extend its remaining mask mandates in high-risk settings such as hospitals, long-term care and public transit.
