TORONTO – The number of people finally hospitalized with Covid-19 in Ontario will drop below one hundred: it is the first time since the end of December, although provincial health officials recall that not all hospitals observe their data over the weekend . However, there are now 842 Covid patients, of which 281 are in intensive care. 

Another 10 deaths were also reported on Sunday in Ontario, bringing the total number of people who have died since the start of the pandemic in the province to 12,430. Another 2,001 cases of Covid-19 confirmed today, even if the number is not indicative because the tests are limited only to the “at risk” categories. Most infections have been identified in the Greater Toronto Area. According to the provincial epidemiological report, 274 new cases were detected in Toronto, 163 in the Peel region and 133 in the York region. Other areas that have reported more than 100 new cases include Ottawa (161), Windsor-Essex (108), and Simcoe-Muskoka (107). Officially there are 18,471 cases still active and known.

Data is also decreasing in Quebec, where today there were 5 deaths (13,974 deaths in total in the province since the beginning of the pandemic) and hospital admissions decreased by 23: in fact, 80 patients were hospitalized and 103 were discharged . The number of people in intensive care units has dropped below 100, with a sufficient number of two. Of the 15,604 “pcr” tests performed, 1,036 were positive with a positivity rate of 7.7%. The active and known cases in Quebec are now, official, 20,337. The province with the highest number of active cases is now British Columbia with 32,995 in Saskatchewan 13,073, 10,112 in Alberta, 8,848 in Manitoba. As for hospitalizations, on the other hand, this situation is province by province: Quebec 1.456, Alberta 1.295, Ontario 842, British Columbia 599, Saskatchewan 399, Manitoba 222, New Brunswick 72, Nova Scotia 44, Newfoundland and Labrador 20, Prince Edward Island 4 There is a generalized decline in hospitalizations in all provinces, although the downward curve seems more pronounced in Ontario.

Meanwhile, for the second time during the pandemic, Saskatchewan says “goodbye” – from tomorrow – to all restrictions related to Covid-19, including the obligation to wear a mask. Saskatchewan had removed the mandatory use of the mask as early as 11 July 2021. Then the fourth wave had arrived and so the provincial government had been forced to turn around, restoring the obligation on 17 September 2021. Starting today, people who wish will obviously be able to wear the mask but it will no longer be mandatory. However, the provincial government recommends the following measures: wear a mask if deemed necessary; take free rapid tests in case of symptoms and stay at home; wash hands frequently; get vaccinated. The province also recommends that people who have tested positive self-isolate for five days after the date of the test. Residents are also encouraged to continue informing their contacts so they can self-monitor or test.

Photo by Amir Arabshahi on Unsplash