TORONTO – Strong, sudden surge in Covid hospitalizations in Ontario: from 1,090 hospitalized on Monday to 1,366 today (+276). The last time the hospitalization count had exceeded that figure dates back to last February 16 when, during the first wave of Omicron (and fifth of the pandemic), the beds occupied by patients with the virus were 1,403. The number of people admitted to intensive care has also increased: from 184 to 190 in 24 hours. 

5 deaths were also recorded today, bringing the total, in Ontario, since the beginning of the pandemic, to 12,570. As for the new cases, today 2,300 cases were reported on the basis of 14,183 tests reserved, however, only for the “at risk” categories. The positivity rate is now 18.7% (yesterday it was 17.6%). The active and officially known cases are now 31,717 against the 31,703 of 24 hours before but, as mentioned several times, the number is certainly far higher.

Of today’s cases in the Greater Toronto Area, 460 were reported in Toronto, 177 in the York region, 137 in the Peel region, 112 in the Durham region and 68 in the Halton region. Also recorded 140 new cases in Hamilton, 122 in Simcoe Muskoka and 116 in Windsor-Essex. In all other areas, fewer than 100 new cases were detected. 86 new infections affect residents (and 19 staff) of long-term care facilities across Ontario: 141 nursing homes have an outbreak. 2,282 healings today, bringing the total from the beginning of the pandemic to 1,156,332 positively resolved cases out of a total of 1,200,619 laboratory confirmed cases.

Critical situation also in Quebec, where the number of hospitalized Covid patients has reached almost two thousand, going from 1,793 on Monday to 1,938 today (+145), the highest number since mid-February. Within 24 hours, 294 new patients were hospitalized and 149 were discharged. The number of ICU patients decreased by 2, for a total of 67.

The number of victims is very high: 35 today, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic in Quebec to 14,579.

Out of 15,293 tests analyzed (and reserved for protected categories), 2,596 tested positive for a positivity rate of 16.7%. 30,172 cases officially active and known, but it is the tip of the iceberg: just think that out of 1,347 quick do-it-yourself tests self-declared today by citizens in the portal activated by the Quebec government, 1,129 are positive. In total, since the portal was activated, the results of 170,230 rapid tests have been entered, 138,069 of which positive.

Pic from https://www.agenas.gov.it