Ontario to increase ICU occupancy as Covid19 cases are on the rise

By Hiba Al-zubaidi

Up to 200 patients are expected to fill Ontario Intensive Care Unites by the new year as Covid 19 cases count continues to climb in most of the province, according to the latest projections from the provenance’s science table.

The new modelling published Friday indicated a stable hospitalization and intensive care admission rate despite suggesting an increase paralleling the ongoing rise in cases.

“Remember, that’s a lagging indicator. ICUs will likely come under more pressure,” The COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said in a Twitter post about the projections.

The scientists table reported warning signs on the future of the ICU capacity. While testing rates remain flat, the testing positivity is higher indicating a flagged jump in the number of cases across Ontario’s public health units. Currently, the province reports 130 patients in Ontario Intensive Care due to Covid-19.

The cold weather that suggests more indoor gatherings and loosening of some restrictions applied in October, like lifting capacity limits on some settings including stadiums, restaurants and gyms are among the reasons linked to the cases increase.

 

 

The government announced a pause in the in the reopening plan this week, night clubs and bars capacity limit lifting is postponed to next mont, a move considered a good decision by the scientific group

A recent surge in daily cases makes future count of infections hard to predict. The recent modelling reported data projection on no further than this month. As the cases increase into the winter, the science table pointed risk of infection is unequal. Low income people and minority groups are more susceptible to die from the disease.