Province reports 29 more deaths, 199 COVID patients in ICU

The number of people dying because of COVID-19 has increased this month compared to March with 29 more deaths included in today's update, all of which occurred in the last 30 days. 

In the last 30 days, 327 people have died because of COVID, with between four and 20 deaths per day and between 54 and 99 deaths per week. In March there were between 55 and 84 deaths per week, with more at the beginning of the month and fewer at the end. 

To compare, at the peak of the Omicron wave in January there were 432 deaths in one week, in February there were 344 deaths the first week, and 115 deaths the last week.

COVID-19 has been the cause of, or a factor in, the death of 12,889 people in Ontario since March 2020, according to the province's daily reporting.

The daily update included 2,488 lab-confirmed COVID cases. Case counts are assumed to be underestimated because of limited PCR testing and only PCR results are included in the daily case counts.

Today, there are 1,698 COVID-positive patients in hospitals, and 199 of them are in intensive care units.

Since the start of the pandemic, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 1,265,690 cases of COVID-19 and reported 1,225,755 cases recovered or resolved.

The May 4 updates provided by the province's public health agency and the ministry of health also reported the following data:

Hospitalizations

• Of the 1,699 people hospitalized with COVID, 43 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19 and 57 per cent were admitted for other reasons, but test positive for COVID-19.
• Included in the hospitalized patients, not in the ICU, are 239 unvaccinated people, 66 people with one dose of COVID vaccine, and 1,050 people with two or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
• 199 patients are in intensive care units with COVID-related illnesses, including 94 patients on ventilators. 
• Among the ICU patients are 30 unvaccinated patients, five people with one dose of a COVID vaccine, and 81 people with two or more doses of a COVID-19 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 18,320 tests, resulting in a 14.3 per cent positivity.

Northern Ontario 

In the north, there are 197 hospitalizations, up from 172 yesterday, according to provincial data. There are 20 people in ICU with the virus, down from 25 yesterday, and 8 people on ventilators, up from 7 yesterday.

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

• Algoma Public Health: The health unit has reported 8,062 cases, 242 known active cases and 30 hospitalizations, with 3 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, 63 per cent have a booster.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: The health unit has reported 5,605 cases, 178 known active cases and 27 hospitalizations. Of the eligible population five years and older, 87 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, 61 per cent have a booster.
• Porcupine Health Unit: The health unit has reported 7,012 cases, 31 known active cases and 19 hospitalizations, with 2 people in ICU. 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 15,035 cases, 398 known active cases and 47 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 86 per cent have both doses. For the eligible population 18 years and older, 60 per cent have a booster.
• Timiskaming Health Unit: The health unit has reported 1,916 cases, 131 known active cases, and 9 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 7,806 cases and 151 known active cases. Current hospitalizations are not reported. The health unit updates weekly on Wednesdays. 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 11,322 cases, 239 known active cases and 22 hospitalizations, with 3 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.