Ontario reports more than 600 new cases, 7-day average reaches 2-month high

Ontario is reporting 613 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as new infections in the province continue a steady climb.

The rolling seven-day average now sits at 675 cases, up more than 100 cases from one week ago and reaching the highest point since Sep. 22.

The province is also reporting an additional six net new deaths due to the virus. The province says there are nine new deaths but three were removed due to a data clean-up.

Ontario reported 481 new cases last Tuesday.

There were 19,851 tests completed in the last day and the province reports a test positivity rate of 3.1 per cent. The positivity rate on Monday, 3.4 per cent, was the highest in the province since early September.

Among the new cases, 318 are in people who are not fully vaccinated and 29 are in individuals with an unknown vaccination status. Residents who are not fully vaccinated represent just under 25 per cent of the province’s population and more than half of Tuesday’s new infections.

There are 282 people in the province hospitalized with COVID-19 and 134 in the ICU. ICU numbers remain relatively stable despite the steady climb in new cases.

Among the individuals in the ICU, 118 are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.

An additional 11,096 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24-hour period, 89 per cent of Ontarians 12 and older have now received one dose and 86 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Parents are now able to book vaccine appointments for children aged five to 11.

Booking opened on Tuesday morning and the province says appointments are expected to begin as early as Thursday, once the federal supply of the vaccine makes its way to public health units across the country.

Appointments can be made through the provincial booking system. Appointments can also be made through public health units that use their own booking system, participating pharmacies and select primary care providers.