Ontario is extending its mandate for a high-risk indoor mask amid the ongoing sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mandate, which applies to places such as hospitals, long-term care homes, shared housing and public transport, was due to expire on 27 April. It will now remain in force at least until June 11.
Health Secretary Christine Elliott said the government was awaiting a formal recommendation to extend the mandate from Ontario’s chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, before making a decision.
Moore said in a news release Friday that the decision was made “to protect our progress in managing this latest wave”.
Speaking during a statement on funding for health care in Uxbridge today, Elliott said Moore had provided his guidance and that the government would implement his recommendations.
The news comes when COVID-19 admission to the intensive care unit rose to a new sixth wave on Friday, although overall hospitalizations with COVID-19 declined slightly. The province also reported the deaths of another 26 people with the disease.
Of the 214 patients in the intensive care unit, 61% were admitted to critical care as a result of COVID-19 symptoms.
The total number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals fell to 1,591, from 1,626 on Thursday. Approximately 46% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 were admitted due to the disease, according to the Ministry of Health.
The ministry also reported another 4,668 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as part of the “data recovery”. In a statement, a ministry spokesman said the number did not reflect a one-day increase, but did not provide further details on when additional cases may have occurred.
Today’s census follows 5,038 cases reported yesterday, an unknown percentage of which are also due to catching up. CBC News’s requests to the ministry for more information on the cases so far remain unanswered.
The official death toll from COVID-19 in Ontario is now 12,704.
On Thursday, public health units administered another 36,134 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, most of which were second re-vaccinations for eligible Ontario residents aged 60 and over. More than 87 percent of Ontario residents aged 12 and older have had at least two doses of vaccine.
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