Province reports 27 more COVID deaths, 214 patients in ICUs

There are 1,591 COVID-positive people currently hospitalized with about 46 per cent of them admitted for COVID-related illness, according to the latest Ontario update. 

There are 214 COVID patients in intensive care unit beds and 86 are on a ventilator with COVID-related illness.

The province also reported 27 more COVID-related deaths that occurred within the last month.

According to the latest update, 248 people have died of COVID or COVID was a contributing factor in their death in the last 30 days. There have been between five and 17 deaths each day. 

Over the course of the pandemic, the province has reported 12,704 deaths that were either caused by COVID, COVID was a contributing factor to the death, or the cause of death was unknown or missing. 

The daily update included 4,668 lab-confirmed COVID cases. This total is higher than the last few days because of catch-up today after issues with the reporting program. 

Case counts are assumed to be underestimated because not everyone is eligible to receive PCR testing and only PCR results are included in the daily case counts.

Since the start of the pandemic, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,234,240 cases of COVID-19 and reported 1,188,438 cases recovered or resolved.

The April 21 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• 1,591 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, down from 1,626 reported yesterday. Of those, 46 per cent were hospitalized because of COVID-19 and 54 per cent were hospitalized for other reasons but test positive for COVID-19. 
• Among those hospitalized but not in the ICU are 225 unvaccinated people, 65 partially vaccinated people, and 1,002 with two or more doses of vaccine.
• 214 people are in ICU because of COVID-related critical illness, which is up from 207 reported yesterday. Of those, 34 no longer test positive for COVID-19.
• There are 86 patients on ventilators because of COVID-related critical illness, down from 90 reported yesterday.
• Among the COVID patients in the ICU are 29 unvaccinated people, one partially vaccinated person, and 99 people with two or more doses of vaccine.

Vaccination

• About 86 per cent of the population over four years old in Ontario has two or more doses of COVID vaccine (about 12.1 million people)
• More than 7.2 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 

• Ontario labs processed 20,828 tests for the latest report, resulting in a 16.1 per cent positivity.

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 136 hospitalizations, down from 154 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 19 people in ICU with the virus, which is the same as yesterday, and 2 people on ventilators, which is the same as yesterday.

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 7,680 cases, 373 known active cases and 33 hospitalizations, with 5 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 5,220 cases, 221 known active cases and 20 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 87 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, 60 per cent have a booster.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 6,781 cases and 284 known active cases. 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, 54 per cent have a booster.
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: The health unit has reported 14,288 cases, 412 known active cases and 41 hospitalizations, with 2 people in ICU. It is only updating its numbers 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, 59 per cent have a booster.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,689 cases, 77 known active cases, and 10 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.
• Northwestern Health Unit: The health unit has reported 7,479 cases and 151 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 91 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 63 per cent have a booster.
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 10,841 cases, 304 known active cases and 34 hospitalizations, with 4 people in ICU. The health unit is only updating data Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Of the eligible population five years and older, 90 per cent of people have at least one dose of the vaccine and 86 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 61 per cent have a booster.

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