Ontario reports 241 COVID patients in ICU, 20 more deaths

Hospitalizations and deaths from COVID continue to decrease slowly with the latest daily update released by the province on March 9.

According to the report, there are 241 patients in intensive care units because of COVID-related illness. Of those, 132 patients are on ventilators. 

The latest COVID updates published by the province reported 20 more deaths. There were 1,947 new cases confirmed through lab testing in today's report. New case counts are underestimated.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,117,439 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,088,615 recoveries and 12,618 deaths.

The March 9 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Cases

• 1,951 recoveries since yesterday's report
• Among the new cases confirmed today are 207 unvaccinated people, 36 partially vaccinated people, and 1,579 fully vaccinated people. 125 cases were reported with vaccination status unknown. 
• The seven-day average incidence rate for cases is 8.9 cases per 100,000 unvaccinated people, 7.8 cases per 100,000 partially vaccinated people, and 11.4 cases per 100,000 fully vaccinated people. 

Hospitalizations

• 751 people are in hospital testing positive for COVID-19. About 46 per cent of those patients were admitted because of COVID-related illness, and 54 per cent were admitted for a different reason but also test positive for COVID-19.
• Of those hospitalized not in the ICU, 151 are unvaccinated, 31 are partially vaccinated, and 404 are fully vaccinated.
• There are approximately 241 patients in Ontario ICUs with COVID-related illnesses, and 198 patients in the ICU currently testing positive for COVID-19.
• There are 132 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness.
• Among the ICU patients are 50 unvaccinated people, five partially vaccinated people, and 71 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 seven 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 17,571 tests for the latest report, resulting in a 10.9 per cent positivity rate. 
• There are 5,826 tests still being processed

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 128 hospitalizations, down from 141 reported yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 21 people in ICU with the virus, up from 18 yesterday, and nine people on ventilators, down from 10 yesterday. 

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 5,557 cases, 392 known active cases and eight hospitalizations, including one 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, 61 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 4,044 cases, 145 known active cases and six 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.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 5,763 cases, 191 known active cases and 12 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 88 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, 53 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 11,887 cases, 381 known active cases and 56 hospitalizations, including three 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, 58 per cent have a booster.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,263 cases, 43 known active cases, and one hospitalization. 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 5,257 cases and 205 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 9,119 cases, 173 known active cases and 34 hospitalizations, including eight 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.