TORONTO – Covid-19 in Ontario: 417 new cases today, a slight increase compared to the previous day (306) but also below the seven-day average. In addition, 35,421 tests were processed in the previous 24 hours (and another 18,914 are being processed), while yesterday there were far fewer: 23,219. The positivity to the test, therefore, drops to 1.5%. Yesterday (and last week) it was 1.7%. 

The total of provincial cases since the beginning of the pandemic is now equal to 593,437, while the active (known) cases are 4,022, down compared to the previous day when they were 4,136, and down from 7 October when they were 4,575. At the peak of the second coronavirus wave in January, active cases had exceeded 30,000 while in the third wave in April, active cases were over 43,000.

The seven-day average has now reached 476 cases, down from the previous week when it was 565. A month ago, the seven-day average was around 700.

Territorial distribution: according to today’s report, 69 cases were registered in Toronto, 44 ​​in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, 43 in the Peel region, 30 in Hamilton, 29 in Ottawa and 23 in Windsor-Essex. All other local health units reported fewer than 20 new cases.

Of the 417 new cases recorded, 228 involve unvaccinated people, 16 partially vaccinated people, 146 fully vaccinated people and 27 people with an unknown vaccination status. The death toll in the province rose to 9,807, with another 3 deaths recorded today.

254 people admitted to general hospital wards (an increase of 12 compared to the previous day) with 158 patients in the intensive care unit (+5) and 129 patients in the intensive care unit with ventilator (+5). At the peak of the third wave, which was the worst in terms of hospitalizations, the province had seen as many as 900 patients in intensive care and nearly 2,400 in general hospital wards.

Of the current hospitalized in ordinary hospital wards, 98 are unvaccinated, 13 partially vaccinated and 31 fully vaccinated. Those in intensive care, 79 unvaccinated, 6 partially vaccinated and 13 fully vaccinated.

Outside the hospitals, there are two “hot” fronts: schools and long term care homes.

According to data from the Ontario government, there are currently 696 schools out of 4,844 with at least one case of Covid-19. Today, 126 new infections were reported in schools, of which 117 among students, 4 among staff and 4 unidentified cases. There are still 1,320 active infections among students and staff, down from the 1,357 active cases reported on Wednesday. Four schools closed following outbreaks.

In long term care homes, there are 10 ongoing outbreaks (+1 compared to the previous day). 25 active cases among long-term care residents and 25 among staff, down by four and up by five in the last day, respectively. The deaths of residents and patients remain unchanged: the total number remains stable at 3,822, while the number of deaths among the staff is still at 13.

Finally, the vaccine front: 28,756 vaccines were administered on the last day (10,346 first injections and 18,410 second injections). More than 10.7 million Ontario residents are fully immunized with two doses, or 82.6% of the eligible population (aged 12 and over). The coverage of the first dose is instead 87.2 percent.

In the pic,  laboratory worker is using a pcr swab in a hospital (photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash)