Public Health Ontario has reported 2,275 new cases of COVID-19 today (Dec. 15).
While that is the highest number of cases reported in Ontario in a single day, the total reflects test results for a 26.5 hour period instead of the usual 24 hours.
Until this point, Public Health Ontario has included data collected at 10:30 a.m. the previous day (so Dec. 14 for today's report). But the province has now switched to collect data from the individual health units at 1 p.m. So today's report includes a one-time increase.
The province reported 20 deaths in today's update, including eight people between 60 and 79 years old, and 12 people over the age of 80. Of the deaths reported today, one was a resident at a long-term care home.
Since yesterday's report, 43 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and five COVID patients have been admitted to intensive care units
The latest update provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following:
- 1,810 new recoveries
- 921 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, up from 857 yesterday
- There are 249 COVID patients in intensive care units (up from 244 yesterday) and 156 COVID patients on ventilators (up from 149 yesterday)
- Of the 2,275 cases reported today, 586 are from Peel, 711 are from Toronto, 154 are from York Region, and 55 are from Simcoe-Muskoka
- 319 new school-related cases reported, there have been 6,664 school-related cases reported in Ontario to date
- There are 20 schools currently closed because of COVID-19 cases, including all schools in the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit are currently closed for in-person learning
- 17,031 current active cases in Ontario, which is up from 16,586 yesterday
- Provincial public health labs have processed 39,566 tests since yesterday's report, which resulted in a 5.4 per cent positivity rate. This is the highest per cent positivity rate since Nov. 24 when it was 5.8 per cent.
- There is a backlog of 45,770 tests awaiting processing
Public Health Ontario has confirmed 144,396 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 123,373 recoveries and 3,992 deaths.
The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 971.4 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario. The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 88.6 cases per 100,000 people from Dec. 5 to Dec. 11, which is up from 85.2 cases per 100,000 people from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5.
In Northern Ontario, the breakdown of Public Health Ontario data is:
- Algoma Public Health: 62 cases, rate of 54.2 per 100,000 people. There are two known active cases. The last case was reported Dec. 11.
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 94 cases, rate of 72.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 96 cases. There are eight known active cases. The last cases were reported Dec. 14.
- Porcupine Health Unit: 118, rate of 141.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has also reported one probable case. There are two known active cases. The last confirmed case was reported Dec. 14.
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 246 cases, rate of 123.6 per 100,000 people. There are nine known active cases. The last case was reported Dec. 14.
- Timiskaming Health Unit: 28 cases, rate of 85.7 per 100,000 people. There are five known active cases. The last case was reported Dec. 14.
- Northwestern Health Unit: 135 cases, rate of 154 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 136 cases and two probable cases. There are five known active cases. The last case was reported Dec. 15.
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 438 cases, rate of 292.1 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 439 cases. There are 116 known active cases. The last cases were reported Dec. 14.