Ontario reports 3,535 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and 607 in ICUs

Ontario reported a dropin hospitalizations ofCOVID-19 patients on Friday, but a slight increase forpatients in intensive care.

The Ministry of Health said Friday morning thatas of yesterday, there were 3,535 people with COVID-19 in hospitals. That's down from 3,645 the day before and 4,114at the same time last week.

About 56per cent of those patients were admitted for COVID-related illnesses while 44per cent were already in hospital when they tested positive for the virus, according to the ministry.

There were 607patients with COVID-19 who required intensive care, up from599 the day before and 590the same time last week.

Roughly 82 per cent of the people with COVID-19 in ICUs were admitted for reasons directly related to the virus.

The health ministry also reported another 68deaths of people with the virus, bringing the official toll to 11,298.

More Ontarians with COVID-19 have died this month than in any other month since last January. January 2022 is currently on track to be among the deadliest months of the entire pandemic in the province, with 1,104deaths confirmed thus far.

Omicron infectivity period doesn't appear shorter: PHO

Meanwhile, a report by Public Health Ontario says the period of infectivity for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 does not appear to be shorter than other forms of the virus, and may be longer in some cases.

The agency says that while there is limited evidence on the infectivity of Omicron, its own modelling data suggests people remain contagious for a similar amount of time.

And it says that, unlike other variants of concern, Omicron does not seem to show a faster viral clearance in vaccinated people compared with unvaccinated ones.

The findings are included in a report on strategies to cohort patients in acute care that was published last week.

They align with comments made earlier this month by Canada's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Theresa Tam, who said the latest evidence does not show the Omicron variant is contagious for less time than previous versions of the virus.

Ontario was one of several provinces to recently reduce the isolation period to five days from 10 days following the onset of symptoms for those who are vaccinated.

Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Yukon and Nunavut, cut the isolation period to seven days for vaccinated people.

Wastewater testing shows downward trend: Jni

Dr. Peter Jni, scientific director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, told CBC Radio's Metro Morning Friday that recent wastewater data continues to show a steady decline in COVID-19 cases.

Jnisaid the latest analysisincluding additional data from more than 30 wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations that came in Thursdayshows "careful good news.

"I'm a bit more optimistic since yesterday afternoon," Jni said. "Looking at a curve in wastewater testing, we're going downward."

However, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have seen a drop in recent days, Jni said ICU occupancy remains "very high."

When asked about Provincial Medical Officer of Health Dr. KieranMoore's message at a news conference Thursday about learning to live with the virus, ahead of some restrictions being lifted in the province including the reopening of indoor dining and gymson Monday,Jnisaid that might be Ontarian's only option.

"We don't have much of a choice, long-term," he said. "We need to ride out this wave but we need to do that carefully."

WATCH | Ontario's top doctor says peoplemust learnto live with the virus:

We've let our lives be controlled says Ontarios top doctor amid surge of Omicron cases

3 years ago

Duration 0:19

Dr. Kieran Moore said Thursday that Canadians have lived with a significant amount of fear about COVID-19 but that thinking is going to have to change.