Public Health Ontario has reported 1,546 new cases of COVID-19 today (March 23).
Today's report includes 1,271 recoveries and nine new deaths.
One of the deaths reported today was an individual between 40 and 59 years old, three were between 60 and 79 years old, and five were over the age of 79. One was a resident of a long-term care facility.
The province has reported 57 new hospitalizations since yesterday, and six new admissions of COVID-19 patients to intensive care units.
The March 23 update provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following data:
- 15,017 active cases, which is up from 14,751 yesterday
- 868 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, up from 813 reported yesterday.
- There are 324 COVID patients in intensive care units (up from 298 yesterday) and 193 COVID patients on ventilators (up from 186 reported yesterday)
- The province reported 32,556 tests were processed yesterday resulting in a 5.7 per cent positivity rate.
- Another 31,325 tests are still under investigation and/or being processed. To date, 12.1 million tests have been completed.
- Of the 1,546 new cases reported today, 465 are from Toronto, 329 cases are from Peel, 161 are from York Region, and 38 are from Simcoe-Muskoka
- There are 64 active outbreaks at long-term care homes, 37 at retirement homes, and 35 at hospitals.
- The new cases reported today include 335 individuals aged 19 and under, 537 people between 20 and 39 years old, 464 people between 40 and 59 years old, 185 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 25 people aged 80 and over.
Variants of concern (Ontario-wide)
- 1,359 lab-confirmed cases of the UK variant strain of COVID-19 (B.1.1.7).
- 47 cases of B.1.351 (also known as the South African variant).
- 37 cases of P.1, which is the variant strain that originated in Brazil.
- Another 13,894 cases have screened positive with a mutation detected, but the lineage for the variant strain not yet sequenced.
- According to Public Health Ontario, there are delays between specimen collection and the testing required to confirm a variant of concern. As such, the reports can change and can differ from past case counts publicly reported.
Vaccines
- There were 50,659 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 administered on March 22, which is up from 31,335 administered on March 21.
- As of 6 p.m. on March 22, the province reported 1,603,699 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered.
- In total, 301,043 people have been fully vaccinated.
Public Health Ontario has confirmed 332,119 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 309,849 recoveries and 7,253 deaths, of which 3,892 were individuals living in long-term care facilities.
The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 2,243.3 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario.
The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 70.8 cases per 100,000 people, which is an increase of 11.5 per cent from last week (March 7 - March 13).
In Northern Ontario, the breakdown of Public Health Ontario data is:
- Algoma Public Health: 223 cases, rate of 194.9 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 224 cases. There are 21 known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 286 cases, rate of 20.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 288 cases. There are 14 known active cases. There have been two confirmed cases of the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) variant, and 21 confirmed cases of the South African (B.1.351) variant of concern. There are 14 tests where variants have been detected but the strain is not known yet. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
- Porcupine Health Unit: 346 cases, rate of 414.7 per 100,000 people. There are two known active cases. There have been two confirmed cases of the South African (B.1.351) variant of concern. There is one test where a variant has been detected but the strain is not known yet. The region is in the yellow- protect zone.
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 1,208 cases, rate of 607 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 1,213. There are 269 known active cases. There are three confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases, both are the UK (B.1.1.7) strain. There are 286 tests where variants have been detected but the strain is not known yet. The region is in the grey - lockdown zone.
- Timiskaming Health Unit: 114 cases, rate of 348.7 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 118 cases. There are 11 known active cases. There has been one confirmed case of the South African (B.1.351) variant of concern. There are three tests where a variant has been detected but the strain is not known yet. The region is in the yellow- protect zone.
- Northwestern Health Unit: 641 cases, rate of 731.1 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 643. There are 74 known active cases. There has been one confirmed case of the UK (B.1.1.7) variant. There are four tests where variants have been detected but the strain is not known yet. The region is in the red - control zone.
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 2,634 cases, rate of 1,756.5 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 2,661 cases. There are 305 known active cases. There are two tests where a variant has been detected but the strain is not known yet. The region is in the grey - lockdown level.
