Ontario reports 63 deaths and nearly 500 patients in ICUs because of COVID

There are approximately 568 COVID-positive patients in intensive care units across Ontario, according to the latest report by the province posted Feb. 1. 

Of those in ICUs, 84 per cent (about 478 people) were admitted primarily because of COVID-related illness. The remainder of the ICU patients did test positive for COVID-19 but were admitted for something else. 

Today's update also includes 63 deaths and 2,622 new cases. New case counts are underestimated due to testing changes.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,035,916 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and reported 981,803 recoveries and 11,504 deaths.

The Feb. 1 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Cases

• 4,816 recoveries and 63 deaths since yesterday's report. The deaths reported have all occurred within the last month. Three more deaths that occurred more than one month ago were also added to the cumulative total in addition to the 63 new deaths reported.
• There are 42,609 active, lab-confirmed cases in Ontario
• Among the new cases confirmed today are 408 unvaccinated people, 103 partially vaccinated people, and 1,807 fully vaccinated people. 304 cases were reported with vaccination status unknown. 
• The seven-day average incidence rate for cases is 30 cases per 100,000 unvaccinated people, 22 cases per 100,000 partially vaccinated people, and 28 cases per 100,000 fully vaccinated people. 
• Lab-confirmed testing is mostly limited to Indigenous people, hospital patients, and those who live or work in high-risk congregate care settings. 

Hospitalizations

• 3,091 people are in hospital testing positive for COVID-19. Of those, 56 per cent (about 1,729 people) were admitted because of COVID-related illnesses and 44 per cent were admitted for other reasons but test positive for COVID. 
• Among those hospitalized but not in the ICU are 583 unvaccinated people, 144 partially vaccinated people, and 1,574 fully vaccinated people. 
• There are 568 patients in Ontario ICUs with COVID. Of those, 84 per cent (about 478 people) were admitted because of COVID-related illness and 16 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID.
• There are 349 COVID patients on ventilators.
• Among the patients in the ICU are 182 unvaccinated people, 16 partially vaccinated people, and 219 fully vaccinated people.

Testing

• Provincial labs processed 16,380 tests yesterday resulting in a 16.2 per cent positivity rate. There are 11,875 tests still being processed.

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are currently 195 people with COVID-19 in hospital, up from 183 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 31 people in ICU with the virus, down from 32 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 3,742 cases, 560 known active cases and 20 current 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. Of the population 18 years and older, 58 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 2,845 cases, 197 known active cases and four hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 86 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 81 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 57 per cent have a booster.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 4,272 cases and 386 known active cases. The health unit does not report hospitalizations. At Timmins and District Hospital there are 27 patients with COVID-19, two of whom were admitted for virus-related reasons. Of the eligible population five years and older, 88 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 80 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 51 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 9,367 cases and 579 known active cases. It is only updating its numbers Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There are 62 COVID-positive patients at Health Sciences North, including eight in ICU. 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.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,019 cases, 71 known active cases, and six hospitalizations, with three people in ICU. Of the eligible population five years and older, 85 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 80 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 55 per cent have a booster.
• Northwestern Health Unit: The health unit has reported 3,345 cases and 259 known active cases. Current hospitalizations are not reported. Of the eligible population five years and older, 96 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 87 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 57 per cent have a booster.
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 6,839 cases, 310 known active cases and 46 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 83 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 55 per cent have a booster.

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