Ontario reports 804 COVID-19 hospitalizations as province forges ahead with reopening plans

Ontario reported 804 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday with 167of those patients requiring intensive care, as the province forgesahead with its reopening plans despite a spike in cases and hospitalizations.

The number of hospitalizations is slightly downfrom 807on Thursday, but up from667one week ago.

The number of patients in intensive care is up by one from166reported yesterday,andup from 161reported at this time last week.

According to the Ministry of Health,49per cent of people hospitalizedwere admitted specifically for treatment of symptoms brought on by the virus,while the rest were admitted for other reasons and then tested positive. Meanwhile,71per cent of people in ICU were admitted because of COVID-19, while the rest were admitted for other reasons andthen tested positive for the virus.

Minister of Health Christine Elliott said Thursday the Ontario government has no plans to reintroduce mandatory masking or pause its reopening plans, even as a sixth wave of COVID-19 is underway in the province with hospitalizationson the rise.

Another 3,519 COVID-19 cases were reported through limited PCR testing Friday,with 17,468 tests completed the day before.

The number of cases is up againafter surpassing the 3,000 mark on Thursdayfor the first time since Feb. 10. Modelling suggests the realfigure to be 10 times the reported number.

Dr. Peter Jni, who heads the province's COVID-19 sciencetable,said Wednesday he estimates the real number of daily cases provincewideto bearound 30,000 to 35,000, based on wastewater surveillance data.

There were also 18 more deathsreported by the province, bringing the total death tollin the province to12,451.

Here are some other key pandemic indicators and figures from theMinistry of Health's daily provincial update:

Active cases: 22,076.

Provincewidetest positivity rate: 16.4 per cent,up from Thursday's rate of 16 per cent.

Patients in ICUrequiring a ventilator to breathe:97.

Long-term care homes in outbreak:65.

Vaccinations:9,618 vaccine doses were administered on Thursdayin Ontario with a total of 32,073,847given out to date. Ninety per cent ofOntariansaged fiveor older have received at least one dose, while just over 86.5per centhave received two doses.