The Ministry of Health reports that there are 707 patients with COVID-19 in Ontario hospitals, marking the third consecutive day of increase in hospitalizations.
There were 667 patients with the virus in hospitals yesterday and 613 patients a week ago.
Forty-seven percent of current patients were admitted for COVID and 53 percent were admitted for other reasons but were positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, the number of patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit continues to decline gradually.  There are currently 157 patients in the ICU, four less than yesterday and 28 a week ago.
Among ICU patients, 76 percent were admitted for COVID-19 and 24 percent were admitted for other reasons, but were positive for the virus.
Health Minister Christine Eliot reiterated yesterday that the county had predicted an increase in cases and hospitalizations as restrictions on the pandemic were lifted, including the removal of the mask on Monday.
“Dr.  Moore (Ontario Chief Physician) has said many times that as we opened Ontario we would see higher levels of wastewater monitoring, but we are confident that we have the capacity in our hospitals to be able to care for anyone who needs a hospital bed or needs to be in the intensive care unit. “, He said in a press conference.
The ministry says five of the latest deaths occurred last month and four of the deaths occurred more than a month ago.  Two of the deaths were residents of long-term care.
As of March 2020, there have been 12,397 virus-related deaths in Ontario.
The provincial laboratories processed more than 17,300 tests in the last 24 hours, producing a 13.5% positivity rate, according to the ministry.
Ontario reported 2,754 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases today, but health experts say this is an understatement due to limited provincial-funded PCR testing.
Among the most recent cases, 1,516 people received three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 732 received two doses, 289 were not fully vaccinated and 217 had an unknown vaccination status.
To date, 89 percent of Ontario residents aged five and over have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 86 percent have received two doses, and 51 percent have received three doses.
The numbers used in this story are in the Ontario Department of Health’s Daily Epidemiological Summary COVID-19.  The number of cases for any city or region may differ slightly from that reported by the province, as local units report data at different times.