Drop in COVID hospitalizations, ICU admissions reported Wednesday

There's a drop in the number of hospitalizations and ICU admissions for COVID-19 in Ontario.

Today, the province reported 364 people are in intensive care due to the virus. That's down from 384 people yesterday.

There are 1,403 COVID-positive patients in hospital, down from 1,550 people yesterday.

There are 47 new deaths being reported today, including one from more than a month ago that's been added after data cleaning.

Limited testing has captured 2,532 new cases included in the latest report. Case numbers are underestimated. The test positive rate has dropped to 10.2 per cent today from 11.9 per cent reported yesterday.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,078,610 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,042,481 recoveries and 12,167 deaths.

The Feb. 15 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Cases

• 3,537 recoveries since yesterday's report
• Among the new cases confirmed today are 376 unvaccinated people, 91 partially vaccinated people, 1,767 fully vaccinated people, and 297 cases with an unknown vaccination status.

Hospitalizations

• Of the 1,403 in hospital testing positive for COVID-19, 54 per cent were admitted because of COVID, and 46 per cent were admitted for other reasons but test positive for COVID-19.
• Among the hospitalized patients who are not in the ICU are 279 unvaccinated people, 658 partially vaccinated people, and 782 fully vaccinated people. 
• There are 232 COVID patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness
• Among the patients in the ICU are 94 unvaccinated people, 12 partially vaccinated people, and 110 fully vaccinated people.

Vaccination

• About 85 per cent of the population five years and older in Ontario is fully vaccinated (about 11.9 million people), four per cent is partially vaccinated and 11 per cent is unvaccinated.
• More than 6.7 million people in Ontario have had three doses of a COVID vaccine.

Northern Ontario

In the north, there are 152 people with COVID-19 in hospital, down from 154 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 21 people in ICU with the virus, down from 23 yesterday, and 10 people on ventilators, up from nine yesterday. 

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 4,472 cases, 583 known active cases and 16 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 88 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 84 per cent have both doses. Of the population 18 years and older, 60 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 3,350 cases, 180 known active cases and three hospitalizations. 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.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 4,914 cases, 437 known active cases and 14 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 88 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, 53 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 10,482 cases, 501 known active cases and 52 hospitalizations. It is only updating its numbers Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As of Wednesday, there were 54 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 89 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 84 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 57 per cent have a booster.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,127 cases, 44 known active cases, and no hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 85 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.
• Northwestern Health Unit: The health unit has reported 4,197 cases and 417 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 89 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 61 per cent have a booster.
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 7,924 cases, 282 known active cases and 46 hospitalizations, including 11 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 84 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 58 per cent have a booster.

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