Ontario reports 626 people with COVID-19 in ICUs

The number of people with COVID-19 in Ontario's intensive care units climbed to 626, the province reported Tuesday, a new high for the ongoing Omicron-driven wave of the pandemic.

Of those patients in ICUs, about 85 per cent were admitted due to COVID-related illnesses while 15 per cent were already in critical care when they tested positive for the virus, according to Health Minister Christine Elliott.

Meanwhile, there were 4,008 people with COVID-19 in hospital, down somewhat from the peak of 4,183 on Jan. 18.

Roughly 55 per cent were admitted because of COVID-19, while about 45 per cent tested positive while already in hospital.

The Ministry of Health also reported the deaths of 64 more people with COVID-19.According to ministry spokesperson Alexandra Hilkene, the deaths happened over the last 20 days.

"Of these, one death occurred yesterday, 15 deaths occurred on January 23rd, 24 deaths occurred on January 22nd, with the remaining occurring in the preceding days," she wrote in an email to media.

"While this will not change the fact that these individuals tragically lost their lives, it is important to be transparent and provide the public with as much context as we can."

Ontario's death toll stands at 11,068.

Today marks two years since the first case of COVID-19 was officially confirmed in Ontario.