The number of Ontarians fighting COVID-19 has reached its highest level in three weeks and hospitalizations are creeping up, the latest Ministry of Health statistics show.
With another 118 cases of the virus reported Thursday, up 34 per cent from 88 the previous day, the province has 1,070 residents with active infections — the most since Aug. 7 and well above a low of 891 early this month. At 48, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is the highest since Aug. 12.
The cases remain concentrated in Toronto with 36 new infections, 19 in Peel, and Ottawa with 22, while Windsor-Essex increased to 12 and Durham had 10. In the Windsor area, for example, officials said seven of the new cases are close contacts who tested positive, two are agri-farm workers and three remain under investigation.
Medical officers of health in Toronto and Peel warned this week that too many people are ignoring pandemic precautions in their cities, with social gatherings being part of the problem.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said most areas of the province remain in good shape as the province continues in Stage 3 of reopenings and looks ahead to the return of school next month.
“Locally, 28 of Ontario’s 34 public health units are reporting five or fewer cases, with 18 reporting no new cases,” she wrote on Twitter.
Peel has the highest number of active cases of COVID-19 with 254, followed by Toronto with 243 and Ottawa with 177 — all increases from Wednesday. Ministry of Health statistics are based on information submitted by health units at 4 p.m. the previous day.
Most new cases are in people under the age of 40, with 47 of the 118 infections reported Thursday in the 20 to 39 age group and 33 being 19 or younger.
The number of people requiring hospital care for COVID-19 across Ontario increased by five to 48, with the 18 needing intensive care up by three and the highest since Aug. 16. Ten of the patients in ICU are on ventilators, a number that was unchanged from Wednesday.
Hospitalizations remain well within the health system’s capacity, but are climbing with the increased number of active cases.
Labs across Ontario processed 28,625 tests on Wednesday.
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