Ontario reports 246 COVID patients in ICUs, 20 more deaths

While the number of COVID hospitalizations is up slightly, ICU admissions remain under 300 — where they've been for nearly two weeks.

The latest COVID updates published by the province report 20 new deaths, and 246 patients in intensive care units because of COVID-related illness. Of those, 141 patients are on ventilators. 

There were 1,208 new cases confirmed through lab testing in today's report. New case counts are underestimated.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,115,492 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 1,086,664 recoveries and 12,591 deaths.

The March 8 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Cases

• 1,653 recoveries since yesterday's report
• Among the new cases confirmed today are 157 unvaccinated people, 32 partially vaccinated people, and 901 fully vaccinated people. 118 cases were reported with vaccination status unknown. 
• The seven-day average incidence rate for cases is nine cases per 100,000 unvaccinated people, eight cases per 100,000 partially vaccinated people, and 11.4 cases per 100,000 fully vaccinated people. 

Hospitalizations

• 779 people are in hospital testing positive for COVID-19. About 44 per cent of those patients were admitted because of COVID-related illness, and 56 per cent were admitted for a different reason but also test positive for COVID-19.
• Of those hospitalized not in the ICU, 165 are unvaccinated, 27 are partially vaccinated, and 411 are fully vaccinated.
• There are approximately 246 patients in Ontario ICUs with COVID-related illnesses, and 200 patients in the ICU currently testing positive for COVID-19.
• There are 141 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness.
• Among the ICU patients are 50 unvaccinated people, eight partially vaccinated people, and 68 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 11,128 tests for the latest report, resulting in an 11.2 per cent positivity rate. 
• There are 8,026 tests still being processed

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 141 hospitalizations, up from 114 reported yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 18 people in ICU with the virus, which is the same 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 5,490 cases, 372 known active cases and eight 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. Of the population 18 years and older, 61 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 4,024 cases, 149 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 82 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 5,736 cases, 230 known active cases and seven 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 11,887 cases, 381 known active cases and 56 hospitalizations, including three 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, 58 per cent have a booster.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,227 cases, 38 known active cases, and one hospitalization. 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 5,257 cases and 205 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 9,028 cases, 172 known active cases and 31 hospitalizations, including eight 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.