Ontario reports 1,003 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 39 more deaths on Friday

Ontario is reporting 1,003 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday, marking the lowest number the province has seen since last December the beginning of the Omicron wave.

The number of people in intensive care units also dropped,with the province reporting 297 people in ICUs. That marks the first time that figure has been under300 since Jan. 5.

The province is set to lift its proof of vaccination requirements next week as part of Ontario's reopening plan due to positive trends in public health indicators but the province's top doctor saidmask requirements will remain in place for the time being.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said at aThursday news briefing that masks remain"an important tool in our tool box" when it comes to reducing transmission of the virus.

Moore said given positive trends in public health indicators and the province's high vaccination rate, health officials are actively reviewing all directivesto health-care providers, and hope to provide an update in the coming weeks.

The number of hospitalizations reported Friday is downfrom 1,066the day before andfrom 1,281at the same time last week.

According to the Ministry of Health, about 49 per cent of those admitted to hospital were seekingtreatment forCOVID-19 symptoms, while 51 per cent were admitted for other reasons but have since tested positive for the virus.

About 76per cent were admitted to intensive care specifically for the virus, while the rest were admitted for other reasons and tested positive.

The number of ICU patients dropped by five on Friday,down from 302the daybefore and 352one week ago.

The province also reported 39additional deaths, pushing theofficial death toll to 12,386.

Wastewater signals rising slightly

The latest wastewater data from Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table suggests virus levels are back on the rise in the province.

Levels rose slightly in all regions of the province except in the North and southwestern Ontario,as of Feb. 16.

More locally, wastewater surveillance data from Toronto Public Healthalso indicate infections may be increasing in the city's northern areas.

Monitoring wastewater data across the province has been a helpful indicator for health officials to get a relative sense of the number of coronavirus infections in an area whilePCR testing remainslimited to those deemed highest-risk.