Public Health Ontario has reported 994 new cases of COVID-19 today (March 4).
Today's report includes 1,072 recoveries and 10 new deaths, of which, two were long-term care residents.
The deaths reported today include three people between 60 and 79 years old, and seven people aged 80 or older.
The province has reported 47 new hospitalizations since yesterday, and four new admissions of COVID-19 patients to intensive care units.
The March 4 update provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following data:
- 10,309 active cases, which is down from 10,397 yesterday
- 649 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, down from 668 reported yesterday.
- There are 281 COVID patients in intensive care units (up from 281) and 183 COVID patients on ventilators (down from 188 yesterday)
- The province reported 65,643 tests were processed yesterday resulting in a 2.1 per cent positivity rate.
- Another 42,273 tests are still under investigation and/or being processed. To date, 11.2 million tests have been completed.
- Of the 994 new cases reported today, 298 are from Toronto, 171 cases are from Peel, 64 are from York Region, and 39 are from Simcoe-Muskoka
- There are 88 active outbreaks at long-term care homes, 54 at retirement homes, and 29 at hospitals.
- The new cases reported today include 165 individuals aged 19 and under, 382 people between 20 and 39 years old, 277 people between 40 and 59 years old, 142 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 24 people aged 80 and over.
Variants of concern
- The province has reported 644 lab-confirmed cases of the UK variant strain of COVID-19 (B.1.1.7).
- The province has reported 31 cases of B.1.351 (also known as the South African variant).
- The province has reported 3 cases 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.
Vaccines
- There were 30,409 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 administered on March 3, which is up from 27,398 administered on Mar. 2.
- As of 8 p.m. on March 3, the province reported 784,828 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered.
- In total, 268,118 people have been fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine.
Public Health Ontario has confirmed 304,757 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 287,424 recoveries and 7,024 deaths, of which 3,871 were individuals living in long-term care homes.
The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 2,050.2 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario.
The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 51.1 cases per 100,000 people, which is up by 1.4 per cent from last week (Feb. 16-22).
In Northern Ontario, the breakdown of Public Health Ontario data is:
- Algoma Public Health: 199 cases, rate of 173.9 per 100,000 people. There are five known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 265 cases, rate of 204.2 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 267 cases. There are seven known active cases. There are two confirmed cases of the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) variant, and 16 confirmed cases 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: 341 cases, rate of 408.7 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 342 cases. There are 14 known active cases. The region is in the orange - restrict zone.
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 695 cases, rate of 349.2 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 698 cases. There are 112 known active cases. There are three 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: 96 cases, rate of 293.7 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 98 cases. There are five known active cases. There is one confirmed case of the South African (B.1.351) variant of concern. The region is in the green - prevent zone.
- Northwestern Health Unit: 486 cases, rate of 554.3 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 487 confirmed cases. There are 39 known active cases. There is one confirmed case of the UK (B.1.1.7) variant. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 1,733 cases, rate of 1,155.6 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 1,734 cases, There are 389 known active cases. The region is in the grey - lockdown level.