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Ontario reports 2,998 new COVID cases today

The province reported 100 deaths today - nearly half occurred earlier in the pandemic but were not reported
Erika Engel
Erika Engel
COVID-19 Assessment
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Public Health Ontario has reported 2,998 new cases of COVID-19 today, (Jan. 15). 

The province has reported 100 deaths today, but 46 of the deaths reported were due to a "data cleaning initiative," and were deaths that occurred earlier in the pandemic in the Middlesex-London Health Unit area. Included in the 100 deaths reported today were 45 individuals living in long-term care homes.

One of the deaths reported today was an individual between 40 and 59 years old, 27 were individuals between 60 and 79 years old, and 72 were individuals over the age of 80. 

Since yesterday, 176 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19, and 18 COVID patients have been admitted to intensive care units.

The Jan. 15 updates provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following data:

  • 3,380 new recoveries
  • 1,647 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, down from 1,657 reported yesterday. 
  • There are 387 COVID patients in intensive care units (down from 388 yesterday) and 280 COVID patients on ventilators (same as yesterday). 
  • 28,825 current active cases in Ontario, which is down from 29,307 reported yesterday
  • The province reported 76,472 tests processed yesterday resulting in a 4.6 per cent positivity rate. The province's goal is three per cent. 
  • There is a backlog of 63,728 tests. 
  • Of the 2,998 cases reported today, 800 are from Toronto, 618 are from Peel, 250 are from York Region, and 73 are from Simcoe-Muskoka.
  • Based on case data reported today, the new cases include 415 people under 20, 1,159 people between 20 and 39 years old, 860 people between 40 and 59 years old, 396 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 170 people over the age of 80.
  • There are 250 ongoing, active outbreaks at long-term care homes in the province, 163 active outbreaks at retirement homes, and 93 active outbreaks at hospitals. 
  • There were 15,609 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 administered on Jan. 14, up from 14,237 on Jan. 13.
  • As of 8 p.m. on Jan. 14, the province reports 174,630 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered.
  • There are 17,094 total vaccinations completed (both doses), which is up from 13,293 reported yesterday. The vaccines approved for use requires two doses a few weeks apart.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 231,308 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 197,194 recoveries and 5,289 deaths, of which 3,137 were individuals living in long-term care homes

The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 1,556.1 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario. The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 162.2 cases per 100,000 people from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11, which is an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to Dec. 30 to Jan. 5 when the average weekly incidence rate was 148.5 cases per 100,000 people.

In Northern Ontario, the breakdown of Public Health Ontario data is:

  • Algoma Public Health: 135 cases, rate of 118 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 136 cases. There are 43 known active cases, including one person who is a non-Algoma resident temporarily in the region.
  • North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 178 cases, rate of  137.2 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 180 cases. There are 14 known active cases.
  • Porcupine Health Unit: 167 cases, rate of 200.1 per 100,000 people. There are 23 known active cases. 
  • Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 384 cases, rate of 192.9 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 383 cases. There are 73 known active cases. 
  • Timiskaming Health Unit: 85 cases, rate of 260 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 86 cases. There are three known active cases.
  • Northwestern Health Unit: 228 cases, rate of 260.1 per 100,000 people. There are 22 known active cases. 
  • Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 696 cases, rate of 464.1 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 705 cases. There are 80 known active cases.

The Ontario government has declared a state of emergency, the second since the start of the pandemic, and a stay at-home order is in effect until at least Feb. 11, 2021. There are additional measures in place for the shutdown, all of which can be found in this provincial breakdown.