Ontario COVID-19 hospitalizations jump to over 1,600

Ontario is reporting another spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations Wednesday with 1,662 patients in hospitals.

This represents a large jump from the 1,486 patients reported on Tuesday and is the highest number the province has seen in the last two months.

There are 203 people in the ICU with 92 patients on ventilators.

Another 28 people have died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the Ontario total to 12,661 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The province reported 1,073 COVID-19 cases with a 16.8 test positivity percentage, but it is estimated the actual number of infections is much higher due to the testing capacity. Just under 22,000 tests were conducted on Tuesday.

As COVID-19 indicators continue to increase in the province, the federal government annonunced they had no plans to remove mask mandates on airplanes.

The U.S.’s mask mandate for flights and public transit was struck down by a federal court judge on Monday.

Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore has also indicated mask mandates on public transit and in high-risk settings could continue past April 27 when they are expected to be lifted.

Mayor John Tory told Breakfast Television he is in support of continuing the mask mandate. “I wish they would just get on the saying that’s what’s going to happen because Dr. Moore hinted at it.”

“I just think that most people accept the fact that wearing a mask is a prudent thing to do. You see very good compliance with it on the TTC,” added Tory. “There was maybe a bit of a dip when people were confused about the rules but I think people are back up wearing the masks again.”