COVID-19 hospitalizations increase in Ontario

There are growing concerns about rising cases and hospitalizations in Ontario. The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in our hospitals is up nearly 30 percent in just the last week.

Despite rising COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford says the province is doing ‘okay.’ “Again, that little spike, we are able to manage it.”

Hospitalizations are up nearly 30 percent in the last seven days, with 857 people testing positive in hospital. 46 percent of those patients were admitted because of COVID and 54 percent were admitted for other reasons, but have the virus.

At a news conference in Hamilton, Health Minister Christine Elliott was asked when Ontarians will be eligible for a fourth dose. “Right now we are waiting for advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. They have come to some conclusions, the report has not been released to us yet. But that is something that we will be studying along with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, to determine what Ontario’s position is going to be.”

The province is reporting another 2,248 COVID cases today, although PCR testing is limited and actual COVID numbers are expected to be much higher. With over 11 thousand tests completed yesterday, the province is recording the highest positivity rate, 19 percent since the height of the Omicron wave in January.

The province did not report any additional COVID-related deaths today, but over 12,400 Ontarians have died since the start of the pandemic.