Ontario reported more than 16,700 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday.
16,713 new infections were reported, setting a single-day record of COVID cases in Ontario since the pandemic began. There have now been 756,361 confirmed cases in Ontario.
Friday’s report broke a previous record set Thursday of 13,807 cases.
Fifteen additional virus-related deaths were also announced on December 31, bringing the death toll in the province to 10,194.
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There are 205 people in intensive care due to COVID-19, an increase of five compared to Thursday. Of them, 104 are connected to a fan, which has not changed.
There are 1,144 people in the hospital with COVID-19, an increase of 179.
The total number of COVID cases resolved in Ontario stands at 647,345, representing an increase of 4,630.
Ontario completed 75,093 additional tests. The positivity rate stands at 29.8 percent. There are 106,173 tests still in process.
New testing requirements go into effect
The government announced Thursday that as of Friday, the CRP test is only recommended for symptomatic people who are hospitalized, in long-term care or retirement homes, healthcare workers, First Nations or students and staff, among others. high risk groups.
It is no longer recommended that asymptomatic people have a PCR test, except those in high-risk settings. People in the general public who have mild symptoms are also advised not to get tested.
The move came as the province’s testing system strained with high demand amid the Omicron surge.
It means that in the coming days, daily case counts in Ontario will be less accurate in showing a true representation of the spread of the virus in the community.
– With files from Gabby Rodrigues
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