Public Health Ontario has reported 1,054 new cases of COVID-19 today (Feb. 24).
Today's report includes 1,291 new recoveries and nine new deaths, two were residents at long-term care homes.
Of the deaths reported today, two were individuals were between 60 and 79 years old, and seven were over the age of 80.
The province has reported 65 new hospitalizations since yesterday, and eight new admissions of COVID-19 patients to intensive care units.
The Feb. 24 update provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following data:
- 10,050 active cases, which is down from 10,296 yesterday
- 675 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, down from 718 reported yesterday.
- There are 287 COVID patients in intensive care units (up from 283) and 182 COVID patients on ventilators (down from 186 yesterday).
- The province reported 54,842 tests were processed yesterday resulting in a 2.4 per cent positivity rate.
- Another 41,251 tests are still under investigation and/or being processed. To date, 10.8 million tests have been completed.
- Of the 1,054 new cases reported today, 363 are from Toronto, 186 cases are from Peel, 94 are from York Region, and 53 are from Simcoe-Muskoka
- There are 114 active outbreaks at long-term care homes, 63 at retirement homes and 33 at hospitals.
- Of the cases reported today there are 188 people under 19 years old, 401 people between 20 and 39 years old, 322 people between 40 and 59 years old, 115 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 28 people over the age of 80.
Variants of concern
- The province has reported 395 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. 24:
- There were 17,141 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 administered on Feb 23, which is up from 16,252 administered on Feb. 22.
- As of 8 p.m. on Feb. 23, the province reported 602,848 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered.
- In total, 251,590 people have been fully vaccinated, having received two doses of vaccine.
Public Health Ontario has confirmed 296,173 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 279,230 recoveries and 6,893 deaths, of which 3,860 were individuals living in long-term care homes.
The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 1,992.5 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario.
The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 49.7 cases per 100,000 people from Feb. 14 to Feb. 20, which is a decrease of 3.7 per cent compared to Feb. 8 to Feb. 14 when the average weekly incidence rate was 51.6 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 three known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 259 cases, rate of 199.6 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 262 cases. There are 29 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: 329 cases, rate of 394.3 per 100,000 people. There are 25 known active cases. The region is in the orange - restrict zone.
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 590 cases, rate of 296.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 594 cases. There are 27 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. The health unit has reported 445 confirmed cases. There are 84 known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 1,422 cases, rate of 948.3 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 1,418 cases, There are 273 known active cases. The region is in the red - control zone.