1,699 COVID-positive patients in Ontario hospitals, 202 in ICUs

While lab-confirmed COVID cases have decreased week-over-week, hospitalized cases have remained steady in the range of 1,650 to 1,700 COVID-positive patients in Ontario hospitals on any given day. 

Today, there are 1,699 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, and 202 of them are in intensive care units.

The same is true for COVID patients in ICUs, which have ranged from 188 to 219 patients over the last two weeks. 

COVID-19 has been the cause of, or a factor in, the death of 12,858 people in Ontario since March 2020, according to the province's daily reporting.

There were 15 more deaths included in today's update. In the last 30 days, 304 people have died because of COVID, with between four and 20 deaths per day.

The daily update included 1,547 lab-confirmed COVID cases. Case counts are assumed to be underestimated because of limited PCR testing and only PCR results are included in the daily case counts.

Since the start of the pandemic, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,263,202 cases of COVID-19 and reported 1,222,298 cases recovered or resolved.

The May 3 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• Of the 1,699 people hospitalized with COVID, 42 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19 and 58 per cent were admitted for other reasons, but test positive for COVID-19.
• Included in the hospitalized patients, not in the ICU, are 251 unvaccinated people, 76 people with one dose of COVID vaccine, and 999 people with two or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
• 202 patients are in intensive care units with COVID-related illnesses, including 84 patients on ventilators. 
• Among the ICU patients are 27 unvaccinated patients, seven people with one dose of a COVID vaccine, and 90 people with two or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Vaccination

• About 86 per cent of the population over four years old in Ontario has two or more doses of COVID vaccine (about 12.1 million people)
• More than 7.2 million people in Ontario have had three doses of a COVID vaccine.
• 10 per cent of the eligible population (aged 5 and up) is unvaccinated

Testing 

• Ontario labs processed 11,755 tests, resulting in a 13.2 per cent positivity.

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 172 hospitalizations, up from 169 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 25 people in ICU with the virus, which is th same yesterday, and 7 people on ventilators, down from 8 yesterday.

In Northern Ontario, the breakdown of Public Health Ontario data for cases and vaccination is:

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 8,028 cases, 236 known active cases and 25 hospitalizations, with 1 person in ICU. Of the eligible population five years and older, 89 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 85 per cent have both doses. Of the population 18 years and older, 63 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 5,605 cases, 178 known active cases and 27 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 87 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 84 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 61 per cent have a booster.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 7,005 cases, 47 known active cases and 7 hospitalizations, with 2 people in ICU. Of the eligible population five years and older, 88 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 83 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 54 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 15,035 cases, 398 known active cases and 47 hospitalizations, with 2 people in ICU. It is only updating its numbers Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Of the eligible population five years and older, 89 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 86 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 60 per cent have a booster.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,887 cases, 118 known active cases, and 10 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 86 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 82 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 59 per cent have a booster.
• Northwestern Health Unit: The health unit has reported 7,806 cases and 151 known active cases. Current hospitalizations are not reported. The health unit updates weekly on Wednesdays. Of the eligible population five years and older, 97 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 91 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 63 per cent have a booster.
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 11,322 cases, 239 known active cases and 22 hospitalizations, with 3 people in ICU. The health unit is only updating data Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Of the eligible population five years and older, 90 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 86 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 61 per cent have a booster.

The data from Northern Ontario health units is based on what was available at 10:30 a.m. today.