TORONTO – The escalation continues: after the 486 cases on Tuesday and 660 on Wednesday, Ontario today recorded 678 new cases of Covid-19, of which 395 were found in unvaccinated people, 82 in partially vaccinated people and 141 in people fully vaccinated (for the remaining people the vaccination status is unknown). Of the new cases, 144 were recorded in Toronto, 102 in the Peel region, 97 in the York region, 78 in Windsor-Essex and 51 in the Durham region. All other local health units reported fewer than 50 new cases. 

27,815 tests processed in the last 24 hours. And there is still a backlog of 14,507 tests pending results. The positivity has reached, at the moment, 2.8% against 2.4% last week. The seven-day average of new cases has now reached 646, an increase compared to Wednesday (625) and especially compared to last week (498). A month ago, the seven-day average was 160. The death toll in the province remained at 9,472 as no new deaths were recorded.

However, hospitalizations are still increasing. Today, Ontario recorded the presence of 302 people in Covid-19 wards (an increase of 19 compared to the previous day), 165 patients in intensive care units (+4) and 134 patients in intensive care with ventilators (+4) . Of the people hospitalized in Covid-19 wards, 137 are not vaccinated, 14 are partially vaccinated and 31 are fully vaccinated. As for those in intensive care, 89 are unvaccinated while 9 are partially vaccinated and 10 are fully vaccinated.

On the vaccination front, starting at 8pm on Wednesday, 38,932 vaccines were administered on the last day (13,950 for the first injection and 24,982 for the second injection). More than 9.8 million people are now fully immunized with two doses, which is 75.5% of the eligible population (aged 12 and over). The coverage of the first dose is 82.5%. Also in Ontario, the variant analysis confirms that the “Alpha” (English) and the “Delta” (Indian) remain in circulation. Even today, in fact, there were no cases of “Beta” (South African) and “Gamma” (Brazilian). 107 instead the new cases of “Alpha” and 216 those of “Delta”.

In Quebec, 603 new cases today (compared to 550 on Wednesday), a further death and hospitalizations on the rise: +9, for a total of 119. There are 36 patients in intensive care, an increase of three compared to the previous day.

Meanwhile, Alberta has exceeded 1,000 new daily cases for the first time in months: on Wednesday the province reported 1,076 new infections (compared to 629 the previous day) and had not happened since last May 15th. Another death was also reported on Wednesday, bringing the total death toll in the province to 2,356. Admissions have increased by 26 since Tuesday’s update. There are now 284 people being treated in the hospital, including 59 in intensive care. Just a week ago, there were 184 people being treated in the hospital. Of the people currently hospitalized, about 80% are unvaccinated, 4% are partially vaccinated and 16% are fully vaccinated.

In the pic, the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, Alberta (photo by Graham Ruttan on Unsplash)