Ontario reports 20 more deaths linked to COVID-19, 1,005 hospitalizations

Ontario is reporting 1,005COVID-19 hospitalizations and 20 more deaths linked to the virus.

Thursday's reported hospitalizations are down slightly from 1,082on Wednesday and1,207exactly one week ago.

According to the Ministry of Health,42per cent of those hospitalizedwere admitted specifically forthe virus,while the rest were admitted for other reasons and then tested positive.

Of those in hospital, 154required intensive care six less than Wednesday's total and 72patients needed the help of a ventilator to breathe.

Sixty per cent of people in ICU were admitted because of the virus, while the rest were admitted for other reasons andthen tested positive.

The province reported at least 1,217new daily cases of COVID-19 Thursday, with 13,542tests completedwithin the past 24 hours. Due to testing limitations, officials say the actual number of daily new cases is likely far higher than the figure reported.

The provincewide test positivity rate stands at 8.4 per cent.

The new deaths reported ThursdaypushOntario's pandemic death toll to 13,195.