Province reports 165 COVID patients in ICU

The number of COVID-positive people hospitalized in Ontario is up slightly today, according to the latest report by the province.

There are 661 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, which is up from 611 reported yesterday. About half of those patients were admitted because of COVID-19 with the rest being admitted for unrelated reasons, but still testing positive for COVID-19.

Between March 1 and 23 in Ontario, 182 people died after contracting COVID-19, and that's including seven deaths confirmed in today's report.

Over the course of the pandemic, the province has reported 12,366 deaths that were either caused by COVID, COVID was a contributing factor to the death, or the cause of death was unknown or missing. 

As of today, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,145,575 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,116,378 cases recovered or resolved.

There were 1,990 more recoveries and 2,561 new cases confirmed through lab testing in today's report. New case counts are underestimated due to limited testing.

The March 24 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• 661 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, up from 611 yesterday. Of those, 53 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19, and 47 per cent were admitted for unrelated reasons but test positive for COVID-19.
• Among those hospitalized, but not in the ICU, are 131 unvaccinated patients, 23 partially vaccinated patients, and 404 fully vaccinated patients. 
• 165 people are in ICU because of COVID-related critical illness, down from 179 reported yesterday. Of those, 43 no longer test positive for COVID-19.
• There are 90 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness.
• Among the COVID patients in ICUs are 33 unvaccinated people, three partially vaccinated people, and 62 fully vaccinated people (two or more doses).

Vaccination

• About 86 per cent of the population over four years old in Ontario is fully vaccinated (about 12 million people)
• More than 7.1 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

Northern Ontario 

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 6,288 cases, 403 known active cases and 15 hospitalizations, with four people 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, 62 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 4,355 cases, 102 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 83 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 6,125 cases, 236 known active cases and nine hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 88 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 83 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 54 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 12,653 cases, 290 known active cases and 34 hospitalizations, with one person in ICU. It is only updating its numbers 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.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,3392 cases, 44 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 6,233 cases and 258 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 9,614 cases, 138 known active cases and 25 hospitalizations, including seven 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.