Ontario reports 1,969 new COVID cases Monday

Public Health Ontario has reported 1,969 new cases of COVID-19 today. 

For the second day in a row, the total new cases reported today include a data catch-up from Toronto Public Health as it migrates to the provincial data system. 

The province is also reporting 2,132 new recoveries and 36 deaths in its latest update, including 19 people who were residents at long-term care homes.

The deaths reported today include one person between 20 and 39 years old, two people between 40 and 59 years old, 10 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 23 people over the age of 80. 

Ontario reports 34 new COVID-related hospitalizations and nine new admissions to intensive care. 

The Feb. 1 update provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following data:

• 19,017 active cases, which is down from 19,216 yesterday
• 1,158 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, down from 1,159 reported yesterday. According to Public Health Ontario more than 10 per cent of hospitals do not report to the daily bed census on the weekends, so hospitalization numbers could be underreported.
• There are 354 COVID patients in intensive care units (down from 356 yesterday) and 260 COVID patients on ventilators (up from 252 yesterday).
• The province reported 30,359 tests were processed yesterday resulting in a 5.2 per cent positivity rate.
• There is a backlog of 11,651 tests. To date, 9.7 million tests have been completed.
• Of the 1,969 cases reported today, 886 are from Toronto (including the data catch-up), 330 are from Peel, 128 are from York Region, and 36 are from Simcoe-Muskoka
• There are 241 active outbreaks at long-term care homes, 137 at retirement homes and 84 at hospitals. 
• Of the cases reported today there are 280 people under 19 years old, 695 people between 20 and 39 years old, 612 people between 40 and 59 years old, 274 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 108 people over the age of 80. 

Variant of concern

• The province has reported 69 lab-confirmed cases of the UK variant strain of COVID-19 (B.1.1.7). 
• 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.

Vaccine update for Feb. 1:

• There were 2,256 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 administered on Jan. 31, down from 2,816 on Jan. 30.
• As of 8 p.m. on Jan. 31, the province reports 341,900 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered.
• In total, 70,293 people have been fully vaccinated, having received two doses of vaccine, which are to be given a few weeks apart.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 270,180 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 244,939 recoveries and 6,224 deaths, of which 3,614 were individuals living in long-term care homes.

The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 1,817.6 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario.

The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 91.9 cases per 100,000 people from Jan. 22 to Jan. 28, which is a decrease of 20.8 per cent compared to Jan. 16 to Jan. 22 when the average weekly incidence rate was 116.1 cases per 100,000 people.

In Northern Ontario, the breakdown of Public Health Ontario data is:

• Algoma Public Health: 165 cases, rate of 144.2 per 100,000 people. There are 18 known active cases.
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 206 cases, rate of 158.8 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 191 cases. There are five known active cases.
• Porcupine Health Unit: 275 cases, rate of 329.6 per 100,000 people. There are 88 known active cases. 
• Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 525 cases, rate of 263.8 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 519 cases. There are 86 known active cases. 
• Timiskaming Health Unit: 89 cases, rate of 272.3 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 90 cases. There is one known active case.
• Northwestern Health Unit: 263 cases, rate of 300 per 100,000 people. There are 23 known active cases. 
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 972 cases, rate of 648.2 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 985 cases. There are 143 known active cases.

The Ontario government has declared a state of emergency, the second since the start of the pandemic, and a stay at-home order is in effect until at least Feb. 11, 2021. There are additional measures in place for the shutdown, all of which can be found in this provincial breakdown.