179 COVID patients in Ontario ICUs

The latest Ontario COVID update shows little change from last week with COVID-positive hospitalizations hovering in the mid-600s and ICU numbers coming in slightly below 200 patients sick with COVID.

Today the province reported seven new COVID deaths that occurred in the last month.

Over the course of the pandemic, the province has reported 12,343 deaths that were either caused by COVID, COVID was a contributing factor to the death, or the cause of death was unknown or missing. 

As of today, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,140,865 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,112,239 cases recovered or resolved.

There were 1,562 more recoveries and 1,447 new cases confirmed through lab testing in today's report. New case counts are underestimated due to limited testing.

The March 22 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• 639 COVID-positive patients in hospitals. Of those, 46 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19, and 54 per cent were admitted for unrelated reasons but test positive for COVID-19.
• Among those hospitalized are 131 unvaccinated people, 23 partially vaccinated people, and 371 fully vaccinated people.
• 179 people are in ICU because of COVID-related critical illness, down from 181 reported yesterday. Of those, 42 no longer test positive for COVID-19.
• There are 93 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness.
• Included in the ICU total are 37 unvaccinated people, three partially vaccinated people, and 52 fully vaccinated people.

Vaccination

• About 86 per cent of the population over four years old in Ontario is fully vaccinated (about 12 million people)
• More than 7.1 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

• Provincial labs processed 10,433 tests for the latest report, which resulted in a 12.2 per cent positivity rate.

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 105 hospitalizations, according to provincial data. There are 17 people in ICU with the virus and four people on ventilators. 

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 6,162 cases, 370 known active cases and 15 hospitalizations, with four people 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, 62 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 4,304 cases, 89 known active cases and 12 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 86 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, 59 per cent have a booster.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 6,094 cases, 298 known active cases and six hospitalizations, with one person 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 12,552 cases, 268 known active cases and 37 hospitalizations, with one person 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 85 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 59 per cent have a booster.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,311 cases, 40 known active cases, and no 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, 58 per cent have a booster.
• Northwestern Health Unit: The health unit has reported 6,103 cases and 264 known active cases. Current hospitalizations are not reported. Of the eligible population five years and older, 97 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 90 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 62 per cent have a booster.
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 9,567 cases, 153 known active cases and 24 hospitalizations, including nine people in ICU. The health unit is only updating data 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 85 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 60 per cent have a booster.

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