Ontario reports 267 COVID patients in ICUs, 17 deaths

Hospitalized COVID cases continue to decrease with 834 COVID-positive patients currently in Ontario hospital beds, according to the latest report.

There are 267 patients in intensive care units (ICUs) because of COVID-related critical illness. There were nearly 600 COVID patients in ICUs at the beginning of February.

The latest COVID updates published by the province reported 17 new deaths, and 2,262 new cases. Case counts are underestimated.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,107,408 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,077,985 recoveries and 12,497 deaths.

The March 3 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Cases

• 2,293 recoveries since yesterday's report
• Among the new cases confirmed today are 259 unvaccinated people, 66 partially vaccinated people, and 1,762 fully vaccinated people. 175 cases were reported with vaccination status unknown. 
• The seven-day average incidence rate for cases is 10 cases per 100,000 unvaccinated people, 8.8 cases per 100,000 partially vaccinated people, and 12.5 cases per 100,000 fully vaccinated people. 

Hospitalizations

• 834 people are in hospital testing positive for COVID-19. Of those, about 44 per cent were admitted to hospital because of COVID-19 related illness, the remaining 56 per cent were admitted for other reasons but test positive for COVID-19. 
• Among the COVID-positive patients in hospital are 190 unvaccinated people, 33 partially vaccinated people, and 440 fully vaccinated people.
• There are approximately 267 patients in Ontario ICUs with COVID-related illnesses, and 224 patients in the ICU currently testing positive for COVID-19.
• There are 149 COVID patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness.
• Included in the ICU totals are 62 unvaccinated people, four partially vaccinated people, and 78 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 

• Ontario labs processed 16,606 tests resulting in an 10.2 per cent positivity rate in the latest report. 
• Another 6,140 tests are still being processed.

Northern Ontario

In the north, there are 137 people with COVID-19 in hospital, down from 138 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 22 people in ICU with the virus, up from 20 yesterday, and 16 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 5,284 cases, 620 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 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 3,896 cases, 161 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 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 5,567 cases, 259 known active cases and 12 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 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 11,603 cases, 509 known active cases and 67 hospitalizations, including seven 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 1,191 cases, 32 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 5,005 cases and 265 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 89 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 8,833 cases, 226 known active cases and 35 hospitalizations, including six 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, 59 per cent have a booster.

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