Ontario reports 15 deaths, 204 COVID patients in ICUs

A steady decline in the number of hospitalized COVID patients and COVID related deaths continues in Ontario, according to the latest update from the province.

Ontario hospitals are caring for 649 COVID-positive patients, including 204 patients in intensive care with COVID-related illnesses.

There were 1,342 COVID-positive patients in hospitals in Ontario on Feb. 17.

Today the province reported 15 new COVID deaths that occurred in the last month, and one more that occurred more than one month ago.

Over the course of the pandemic, province has reported 12,288 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 1,129,543 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,101,842 cases recovered or resolved.

There were 2,060 more recoveries and 2,011 new cases confirmed through lab testing in today's report. New case counts are underestimated due to limited testing.

The March 16 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• 649 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, down from 688 reported yesterday. Of those, 47 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19 related illness and 53 per cent were admitted for unrelated reasons but still test positive for COVID-19.
• Among the hospitalized patients are 128 unvaccinated people, 18 partially vaccinated people, and 377 fully vaccinated people.
• 204 people are in ICU because of COVID-related critical illness, down from 220 reported yesterday. Of those, 49 no longer test positive for COVID-19.
• There are 103 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness.
• Among the patients in ICU are 36 unvaccinated people, four partially vaccinated people, and 62 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 15,702 tests for the latest report, resulting in a 12 per cent positivity rate. 

Northern Ontario

In the north, there are 114 hospitalizations, down from 122 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 19 people in ICU with the virus, down from 20 yesterday, and nine people on ventilators, which is the same as yesterday. 

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 5,895 cases, 376 known active cases and 14 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 4,199 cases, 105 known active cases and eight 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 5,967 cases, 243 known active cases and nine 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, 53 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 12,263 cases, 338 known active cases and 67 hospitalizations, with two people in ICU. It is only updating its numbers Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As of Wednesday, there were 54 hospitalizations. 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 1,279 cases, 33 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 5,663 cases and 196 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 9,387 cases, 163 known active cases and 28 hospitalizations, including seven 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.