Hospitalizations with COVID-19 in Ontario increased by 1730, most since mid-February

The number of people in Ontario hospitals with COVID-19 rose to 1730 on Tuesday, a new peak for the province’s ongoing sixth wave.

Of these patients, approximately 46% were admitted as a direct result of symptoms of COVID-19, while 54% were already in hospital when tested positive for the virus, according to the Ministry of Health.

For the second day in a row, there were 219 people with COVID-19 treated in intensive care units – also the sixth wave.

Last week, Ontario’s chief medical officer suggested that the current wave had already peaked in numbers. Dr Kieran Moore said he expected hospitalizations and intensive care admissions to increase gradually over several weeks before declining.

Meanwhile, the health ministry announced the deaths of another 14 people with the disease. The official death toll in Ontario is 12,750.

Limited laboratory tests confirmed another 1,827 cases of the virus. Ontario public health reported a 13.2 percent positive test result of 13,451 tests.