COVID cases, hospitalizations continue upward trend this week in Ontario

The number of lab-confirmed COVID cases and COVID-positive patients in Ontario hospitals has risen again today with over 800 people with COVID in hospital and more than 3,000 new cases reported today.

Five more people have died after contracting COVID-19, according to the latest update from the province.

Since March 1, 2022, the province has reported 230 COVID deaths. 

Over the course of the pandemic, the province has reported 12,433 deaths that were either caused by COVID, COVID was a contributing factor to the death, or the cause of death was unknown or missing. 

There were 2,121 more recoveries and 3,139 new cases confirmed through lab testing in today's report. New case counts are underestimated due to limited testing.

As of today, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,162,609 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,129,428 cases recovered or resolved.

The March 31 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• 807 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, up from 778 reported yesterday. Of those, 48 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19 and 52 per cent were admitted for unrelated reasons, but tested positive for COVID-19. 
• Among the hospitalized patients (not in the ICU) are 182 unvaccinated people, 28 partially vaccinated people, and 495 fully vaccinated people. 
• 166 people are in ICU because of COVID-related critical illness, which is even with yesterday's report. Of those, 36 no longer test positive for COVID-19.
• There are 93 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness, down from 94 yesterday.
• Included in the ICU hospitalizations are 27 unvaccinated people, six partially vaccinated people, and 69 fully vaccinated people. 

Vaccination

• About 86 per cent of the population over four years old in Ontario is fully vaccinated (about 12.1 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 

• Ontario labs processed 18,318 tests for the latest report, resulting in a 16 per cent positivity.

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 96 hospitalizations, down from 110 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 18 people in ICU with the virus, up from 16 yesterday, and 10 people on ventilators, up from eight yesterday.

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 6,641 cases, 448 known active cases and 19 hospitalizations, with five 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 4,506 cases, 133 known active cases and five 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, 60 per cent have a booster.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 6,264 cases, 192 known active cases and eight hospitalizations. 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 13,007 cases, 314 known active cases and 34 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 1,417 cases, 61 known active cases, and five 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 6,619 cases and 259 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 9,792 cases, 118 known active cases and 24 hospitalizations, with eight 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 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.