The number of outbreaks related to elementary schools in Ontario has reached a new high

Key takeaways:

For the second day in a row, Ontario has recorded 1,009 new cases of COVID-19, increasing the overall number of elementary school-related outbreaks to a new pandemic high.

On Wednesday, Ontario reported 1,009 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of elementary school-related outbreaks to a new pandemic high for the second day.

According to the province, there are 260 active outbreaks linked to schools, including 239 tied to elementary schools.

This is up from the 219 outbreaks linked to elementary schools disclosed on Tuesday. The previous pandemic high was 214, set on April 14 — two days after the province declared that schools would be closed to contain the pandemic’s third wave.

Also read: As the COVID-19 issue worsens, Ontario has to hold the reopening plan

Most COVID-19 outbreaks in Ontario have occurred in schools in recent weeks. In this context, an outbreak is described as two or more lab-confirmed cases in students, staff, or visitors, with at least one of the illnesses having an epidemiological link, indicating that the case was transmitted within the school rather than in the wider community.

Today, the province reported the largest school-related incidents in a single day, with 252. The virus has forced ten, or about 0.2 percent, of Ontario’s 4,844 publicly funded schools to close.

In addition, roughly 23.6 percent of children aged five to 11 in the province had got their first vaccine dose as of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, today’s case count is up by 29% from the 780 cases reported at the same period last week.

The seven-day average of daily cases has risen to 1,007, up 23% from last Wednesday.

The number of outbreaks related to Ontario elementary schools has reached a new high. **Image from CBC**

The number of patients in intensive care units treated for COVID-related disorders has dropped to 155 from 165. 97 of the patients required the use of a ventilator to breathe.

In its latest modeling, presented on Tuesday, Ontario’s science advisory committee predicted that the province might have between 250 and 400 COVID patients in ICUs by the end of January, depending on vaccination rates.

The administration responded by claiming that the healthcare system can “safely admit” roughly 300 COVID patients to ICUs without delaying other urgent care.

The Ministry of Health also verified the deaths of eight more COVID-19 afflicted people, increasing the total number of COVID-19 affected people to 10,044.