COVID hospitalizations, cases continue steep rise in Ontario

COVID-related hospitalizations and cases confirmed through lab testing continue to rise in Ontario with more than 4,000 cases reported today and more than 1,100 COVID-positive patients now hospitalized, the highest number of hospitalizations since Feb. 19. 

Hospitalizations and case counts have risen quickly in the last few weeks. There were 2,398 new cases and 644 COVID-positive hospital patients reported on March 17, which has climbed to 4,224 new cases and 1,126 hospitalizations included in the April 7 report. 

Case counts are assumed to be underestimated because not everyone is eligible to receive PCR testing and only PCR results are included in the daily case counts.

The province reported 16 more COVID-related deaths that occurred within the last month.

According to the latest update, there have been 206 COVID deaths since March 8, with between four and 13 deaths each day. 

Over the course of the pandemic, the province has reported 12,527 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 1,184,345 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,144,889 cases recovered or resolved.

The April 8 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• 1,126 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, up from 1,074 reported yesterday. Of those, 47 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19 and 53 per cent were admitted for other reasons but still test positive for COVID-19.
• Among the hospitalized COVID patients not in the ICU are 185 unvaccinated people, 27 partially vaccinated people, and 725 fully vaccinated people. 
• 159 people are in ICU because of COVID-related critical illness, which is down from 168 reported yesterday. Of those, 31 no longer test positive for COVID-19.
• There are 80 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness, down from 83 yesterday.
• Among the ICU hospitalizations are 29 unvaccinated people, three partially vaccinated people, and 67 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 7.2 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 21,347 tests for the latest report, resulting in a 17.2 per cent positivity.

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 123 hospitalizations, which is the same as yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 17 people in ICU with the virus, down from 18 yesterday, and six people on ventilators, down from nine yesterday.

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 7,004 cases, 426 known active cases and 21 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 4,716 cases, 180 known active cases and 14 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 6,472 cases, 218 known active cases and 10 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 13,413 cases, 382 known active cases and 45 hospitalizations, with three 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 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 1,500 cases, 73 known active cases, and nine 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 6,905 cases and 172 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, 63 per cent have a booster.
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 9,985 cases, 127 known active cases and 20 hospitalizations, with nine 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, 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.