Ontario reports 3,814 hospitalizations of people with COVID-19 and 527 in ICU

Ontario reported another pandemic recordof 3,814patients in hospital withCOVID-19 on Friday, marking the fifthstraight day where the number of hospitalizations climbed.

Friday's figure is a jump of over 1,000from the same day last week when there were 2,472 people hospitalized with the virus.

Of those in hospitalwith COVID-19,53per centwere admittedseeking treatmentfor the virus, while 47per centwere admitted for other reasons but have tested positive for the virus, according todatabythe Ministry of Health. That data does not list a breakdown for previous waves of the virus for comparison.

As of Friday, thereare527people with COVID-19 inICUs.That's a jump from 500 patients the day before and upfrom338one week ago.

There are 288 people on ventilators due to COVID-19, 13 more than the previous day.

Approximately 80per centwere admitted to the ICU seeking treatment forCOVID-19and 20per centwere admitted for other reasons but have tested positive for the illness, according to the dataset.

The seven-day rolling average of ICU admissions linked toCOVID-19now sits at 463.

In a news conference Thursday,Ontario's chief medical officer of healthDr. Kieran Moore said Omicron may peak in the next few weeks but the province is unlikely to see a full-blown reopening until COVID-19 cases plateau and pressures on the health-care system ease.

Moore said the peak in cases is likely to be followed by subsequent increases in hospitalizations and ICU admissions.

Dr. Peter Juni,scientific director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, says while the province lacks accurate numbers on COVID-19 cases, data on mobility and test positivity are offering some clues on the current trajectory.

He says people's mobility outside of their homes, which is strongly correlated with their number of contacts, has dropped significantly since late last month.

Test positivity has also started to decrease.

Juni saidthose two elements combined are cause for cautious optimism that the COVID-19 situation in hospitals may start to peak in the next few weeks.

But he noted that hospital occupancy will need to be examined over the next week to see if the disease curve is indeed flattening.

The healthministryalso recorded the deaths of 42more people with COVID-19,pushing Ontario's officialtoll to 10,522.

In a statement, a ministry spokesperson said that 41 additional deathshad occurred over the last weekand were included in Friday's figuresdue a data catch up.

Meanwhile, public health units collectively administered another 163,036 doses of vaccines yesterday.

Provincial data shows 82per centof Ontariansaged five and olderhave now received two doses of a COVID-19vaccine,and88 per centhave at least one dose.

Immunocompromised Ontarians can now book 4th dose

Immunocompromised Ontarians can book appointments for a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine starting Friday morning.

Appointments for moderately to severely immunocompromised people will be made available through the provincial vaccine contact centre at 8 a.m.

Moore saysthe move aims to provide further protection for vulnerable populations.

The province has already started administering fourth doses in long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings.

Moorealso said transplant patients are lagging in getting their third doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, which is considered part of their primary series of shots.

He said only 64 per cent of transplant patients have received a third dose so far.

At least 10,964COVID-19 cases logged in Ontario

Ontario reported at least 10,964new cases of the virus Friday.

As the province recentlychanged its guidelinesto significantly limit who qualifies for a PCR test, the case total for today is likely a drastic undercount of the real situation. Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table estimates that roughly one in five cases are currently being confirmed by the province's testing regime.

For the 58,031 tests that were completed, Public Health Ontario reported a positivity rate of 21.8per cent.

The casesconfirmed through the limited testing availableinclude:

• 1,961in Toronto
• 1,561in PeelRegion
• 1,054in Durham Region
• 918in York Region
• 633 in Halton Region
• 613 in Waterloo Region
• 604 in Hamilton
• 453 in Ottawa
• 340 in Niagara Region
• 329 inSimcoeMuskoka
• 302 in Windsor-Essex
• 315inMiddlesex-London
• 166 in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph
• 146in Eastern Ontario health unit
• 143 in Lambton County
• 121in Brant County
• 107in Sudbury
• 114in Southwestern