Ontario reports 220 COVID patients in ICUs

The number of COVID patients in the hospital is about half what it was last month, with daily fluctuations still reported.

Ontario hospitals are caring for 688 COVID-positive patients, including 220 patients in intensive care with COVID-related illnesses according to the latest update published by the province.

There were 1,342 COVID-positive patients in hospitals in Ontario on Feb. 17.

Today the province reported 13 new COVID deaths that occurred in the last month, and three more that occurred more than one month ago.

Over the course of the pandemic, province has reported 12,272 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 1,127,532 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,099,782 cases recovered or resolved.

There were 1,593 more recoveries and 1,076 new cases confirmed through lab testing in today's report. New case counts are underestimated due to limited testing.

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

Hospitalizations

• 688 COVID-positive patients in hospitals. Of those, 49 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19 related illness and 51 per cent were admitted for unrelated reasons but still test positive for COVID-19.
• Among the hospitalized patients are 118 unvaccinated people, 24 partially vaccinated people, and 378 fully vaccinated people.
• 220 people are in ICU because of COVID-related critical illness and, of those, 49 no longer test positive for COVID-19.
• There are 112 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness.
• Among the patients in ICU are 40 unvaccinated people, five partially vaccinated people, and 66 fully vaccinated people. 

Vaccination

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

Testing 

• Provincial labs processed 9,698 tests for the latest report, resulting in a 13 per cent positivity rate. 

Northern Ontario

In the north, there are 122 hospitalizations,, according to provincial data. There are 20 people in ICU with the virus, down from 22 yesterday, and nine people on ventilators, down from 10 yesterday. 

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 5,826 cases, 354 known active cases and 11 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 4,170 cases, 104 known active cases and seven 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 5,974 cases, 235 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, 53 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 12,263 cases, 338 known active cases and 67 hospitalizations, with two people in ICU. 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 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 1,270 cases, 31 known active cases, and no 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.
• Northwestern Health Unit: The health unit has reported 5,544 cases and 138 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 9,310 cases, 156 known active cases and 34 hospitalizations, including nine 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.