Another 120 people died from COVID-19 in Ontario in the past week, while reported hospitalizations in the province similar to the virus have declined but remain higher than they had been in eight months.
Data recently released by the Ministry of Health shows that the number of other people hospitalized with the virus rose from 1921 last week to 1842 this week. Since February, the province has not seen such a high number of hospitalizations.
Of those hospitalized, 140 are in intensive care, a slight low from the 148 reported last Thursday.
The official number of COVID-19 deaths in Ontario now stands at 14,844, reaching the 15,000 mark. Earlier this year, the province replaced its reports to exclude deaths not attributed to the virus.
The new numbers come as Ontario faces its most sensible doctor who has called a “triple threat” of a poor flu season, COVID-19 and the resurgence of a viral illness in children known as RSV.
That, says fitness medical director Dr. Kieran Moore, could lead to a decision on mask recommendations within weeks. A fitness formula that was already under pressure.
Moore monitors COVID-19 indicators, ICU occupancy and even flu activity to assess his decision on masks.
Some public fitness experts, such as Dr. Fahad Razak, former head of the COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board, said Ontario is already on the verge of mask mandates again.
Moore Omicron’s BQ. 1 and BQ. 1. 1 subvariants are “becoming a dominant strain” in Ontario.
Public Health Ontario has reported in the past that BQ subvariants grow twice as fast as the BA. 5 strain and have the potential for a maximum threat of transmissibility, reinfection and reduced vaccine efficacy.
Test positivity on Thursday was 14. 6%, down from 16. 1% last Thursday, but up more than 18% last Friday.
Positivity rates can vary depending on the number of others testing for the virus. Last January, the province restricted PCR testing to high-risk populations and settings only.
Experts said the number of reported cases is a serious underestimate of the true extent of COVID-19 infections in Ontario.
With from The Canadian Press
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