Ontario reports 1,135 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 10 more deaths Friday

Hospitalizations are continuing to creep up in Ontario, with the provincereporting1,135 people in hospital with COVID-19and 10more deaths linked to the virus Friday.

Friday's hospitalizations are upfrom 1,126the day before and 804at this time last week.

Of that number, 166patients are in intensive care, about the same as a week earlier when there were167 in ICUs. Eighty-six patients are on ventilators due to the virus.

According to the Ministry of Health,45per cent of people hospitalizedwere admitted specifically for treatment of symptoms brought on by the virus,while the rest were admitted for other reasons and then tested positive. Meanwhile, 64per cent of people in ICU were admitted because of COVID-19, while the rest were admitted for other reasons andthen tested positive for the virus.

The province reported another 4,295COVID-19 cases through limited PCR testing,with 17,565tests completed the day before.

Dr. Peter Jni, who heads the province's scientific advisory table, said Wednesday Ontario is now seeing an estimated 100,000 to 120,000 new cases of COVID-19 daily through wastewater data.

The test positivity rate is at 19 per cent, up from Thursday's 17.2per cent.

The additionaldeaths reported pushthe total death toll in the province to12,537.

Meanwhile, Ontario expanded fourth dose eligibility on Thursday to those aged 60 and older, First Nations, Inuit and Mtis individuals, as well as all Indigenous residents andtheir non-Indigenous household members aged 18 or older.

The second booster shots are being offered at a recommended interval of five months after the initial booster shot.