Public Health Ontario has reported 975 new cases of COVID-19 today (Feb. 23).
Today's report includes 1,002 new recoveries and 12 new deaths, one was a resident at a long-term care home.
Of the deaths reported today, six were individuals were between 60 and 79 years old, and six were over the age of 80.
The province has reported 43 new hospitalizations since yesterday, and 11 new admissions of COVID-19 patients to intensive care units.
The Feb. 23 update provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following data:
- 10,296 active cases, which is down from 10,335 yesterday
- 718 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, up from 646 reported yesterday.
- There are 283 COVID patients in intensive care units (up from 280) and 186 COVID patients on ventilators (down from 189 yesterday).
- The province reported 25,979 tests were processed yesterday resulting in a 4.2 per cent positivity rate.
- Another 28,802 tests are still under investigation and/or being processed. To date, 10.7 million tests have been completed.
- Of the 975 new cases reported today, 343 are from Toronto, 186 cases are from Peel, 89 are from York Region, and 48 are from Simcoe-Muskoka
- There are 121 active outbreaks at long-term care homes, 69 at retirement homes and 38 at hospitals.
- Of the cases reported today there are 160 people under 19 years old, 365 people between 20 and 39 years old, 278 people between 40 and 59 years old, 153 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 18 people over the age of 80.
Variants of concern
- The province has reported 390 lab-confirmed cases of the UK variant strain of COVID-19 (B.1.1.7).
- The province has reported 9 cases of B.1.351 (also known as the South African variant).
- The province has reported 1 case of P.1, which is the variant strain that originated in Brazil.
- According to Public Health Ontario, there are delays between specimen collection and the testing required to confirm a variant of concern. As such, the reports can change and can differ from past case counts publicly reported.
Vaccine update for Feb. 23:
- There were 16,252 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 administered on Feb 22, which is up from 12,922 administered on Feb. 20.
- As of 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, the province reported 585,707 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered.
- In total, 247,042 people have been fully vaccinated, having received two doses of vaccine.
Public Health Ontario has confirmed 295,119 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 277,939 recoveries and 6,884 deaths, of which 3,858 were individuals living in long-term care homes.
The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 1,985.4 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario.
The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 48.6 cases per 100,000 people from Feb. 13 to Feb. 19, which is a decrease of 7.6 per cent compared to Feb. 7 to Feb. 13 when the average weekly incidence rate was 52.6 cases per 100,000 people.
In Northern Ontario, the breakdown of Public Health Ontario data is:
- Algoma Public Health: 195 cases, rate of 170.4 per 100,000 people. There are four known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 258 cases, rate of 198.8 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 261 cases. There are 30 known active cases. There is one confirmed case of the South African (B.1.351) variant of concern. The shutdown and stay-at-home order are still in effect in the region until at least March 8.
- Porcupine Health Unit: 327 cases, rate of 391.9 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 329 cases. There are 25 known active cases. The region is in the orange - restrict zone.
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 582 cases, rate of 292.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 583 cases. There are 21 known active cases. There are 3 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases, both are the UK (B.1.1.7) strain. The region is in the orange - restrict zone.
- Timiskaming Health Unit: 91 cases, rate of 278.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 92 cases. There are no known active cases. The region is in the green - prevent zone.
- Northwestern Health Unit: 432 cases, rate of 492.7 per 100,000 people. There are 97 known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 1,377 cases, rate of 893.6 per 100,000 people. There are 257 known active cases. The region is in the red - control zone.