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Ontario reports 1,258 new COVID cases Friday

Today's report includes 1,007 recoveries and 28 deaths
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Public Health Ontario has reported 1,258 new cases of COVID-19 today (Feb. 26).

Today's report includes 1,007 new recoveries and 28 new deaths, none were residents at long-term care homes. 

Of the deaths reported today, two were individuals were between 40 and 59, 11 were between 60 and 79 years old, and 15 were over the age of 80. 

The province has reported 58 new hospitalizations since yesterday, and 27 new admissions of COVID-19 patients to intensive care units.

The Feb. 26 update provided by the province's public health agency also reported the following data:

  • 10,294 active cases, which is up from 10,071 yesterday
  • 683 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ontario, down from 687 reported yesterday. 
  • There are 284 COVID patients in intensive care units (up from 283) and 193 COVID patients on ventilators (up from 182 yesterday)
  • The province reported 64,049 tests were processed yesterday resulting in a 2.3 per cent positivity rate.
  • Another 35,502 tests are still under investigation and/or being processed. To date, 10.9 million tests have been completed.
  • Of the 1,258 new cases reported today, 362 are from Toronto, 274 cases are from Peel, 104 are from York Region, and 25 are from Simcoe-Muskoka
  • There are 104 active outbreaks at long-term care homes, 62 at retirement homes and 34 at hospitals. 
  • Of the cases reported today there are 228 people under 19 years old, 477 people between 20 and 39 years old, 355 people between 40 and 59 years old, 154 people between 60 and 79 years old, and 42 people over the age of 80. 

Variants of concern

  • The province has reported 477 lab-confirmed cases of the UK variant strain of COVID-19 (B.1.1.7). 
  • The province has reported 14 cases of B.1.351 (also known as the South African variant).
  • The province has reported 2 cases of P.1, which is the variant strain that originated in Brazil. 
  • 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. 26:

  • There were 21,805 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 administered on Feb 25, which is up from 19,112 administered on Feb. 24. 
  • As of 8 p.m. on Feb. 25, the province reported 643,765 doses of vaccine against COVID-19 have been administered.
  • In total, 258,014 people have been fully vaccinated, having received two doses of vaccine.

Public Health Ontario has confirmed 298,569 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, and reported 281,331 recoveries and 6,944 deaths, of which 3,864 were individuals living in long-term care homes.

The cumulative average incidence rate in the province is 2,008.6 cases per 100,000 people in Ontario.

The weekly incidence rate in Ontario is 50.2 cases per 100,000 people from Feb. 16 to Feb. 22, which is an increase of 0.4 per cent compared to Feb. 10 to Feb. 16 when the average weekly incidence rate was 50 cases per 100,000 people.

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

  • Algoma Public Health: 197 cases, rate of 172.2 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 196 cases. There are four known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
  • North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: 260 cases, rate of 200.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 262 cases. There are 28 known active cases. There are two confirmed cases of the South African (B.1.351) variant of concern. The shutdown and stay-at-home order are still in effect in the region until at least March 8.
  • Porcupine Health Unit: 335 cases, rate of 401.5 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 338 cases. There are 28 known active cases. The region is in the orange - restrict zone.
  • Public Health Sudbury and Districts: 602 cases, rate of 302.5 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 605 cases. There are 30 known active cases. There are 3 confirmed variants of concern (VOC) cases, both are the UK (B.1.1.7) strain. The region is in the orange - restrict zone.
  • Timiskaming Health Unit: 92 cases, rate of 281.4 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 93 cases. There is one known active case. The region is in the green - prevent zone.
  • Northwestern Health Unit: 443 cases, rate of 505.3 per 100,000 people. The health unit has reported 447 confirmed cases. There are 70 known active cases. The region is in the yellow - protect zone.
  • Thunder Bay District Health Unit: 1,508 cases, rate of 1,005.6 per 100,000 people.  The health unit has reported 1,557 cases, There are 349 known active cases. The region is in the red - control zone.

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Erika Engel

About the Author: Erika Engel

Erika regularly covers all things news in Collingwood as a reporter and editor. She has 15 years of experience as a local journalist
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