The province reported eight more COVID-19 deaths on Friday as virus-related hospitalizations and intensive care continued to decline.
The health ministry says these eight deaths have occurred in the past month and five have been placed in long-term care homes.
Since March 2020, the province has confirmed 13,275 virus-related deaths.
The ministry says there are 669 patients with the virus in rural hospitals, one less than yesterday and a noticeable drop from 948 patients a week ago – a drop of 42 per cent from the week to the week.
Among today’s hospitalized patients, 117 are in intensive care, compared with 119 on Thursday and 154 a week ago. Today is the lowest number admitted to the intensive care unit since mid-August.
The ministry says 42% of COVID hospitalizations were admitted for virus-related reasons, while 57% were admitted for other reasons and tested positive.
Meanwhile, 61% of patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit were hospitalized for virus-related reasons, and 38% were admitted for other reasons and subsequently tested positive.
Provincial laboratories have processed nearly 10,100 tests in the last 24 hours, giving a 7.3% positive percentage, up from 8.4% at the time a week ago, the ministry said.
The province confirmed another 888 cases of coronavirus today, but health officials say the daily number of cases is underestimated due to limited PCR testing.
Among recent cases, 566 of the individuals received three or four doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 149 received two doses, 101 were partially or unvaccinated, and 72 had unknown vaccination status.
Mask mandates must be abolished in all other high-risk indoor areas, including long-term care and transit homes, on 11 June.
Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr Susie Hotta says cases are expected to continue to decline over the summer, but may increase slightly later this month with the abolition of mandates for masks and other factors.
“I already see less camouflage in public places and even on transport, where it is still recommended. So we will have to watch things carefully. And the other variable is different options that could spin, “she told CP24 on Friday morning.
“I think we just have to keep the same kind of vigilance and caution we’ve had in previous waves.
Yesterday, health officials administered 16,984 doses of vaccine across the province.
To date, 90% of Ontario residents aged five and over have received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 87% have received two doses, and 52% have received three doses.
The numbers used in this story are in the Ontario Department of Health’s daily epidemiological summary COVID-19. The number of cases for each city or region may differ slightly from that reported by the province, as local units report figures at different times.
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