Ontario confirmed seven more deaths due to COVID-19 and 179 patients in intensive care on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Health says the recent deaths occurred last month.

There have been 12,343 deaths due to the virus since March 2020, according to the province.

Currently, there are 639 virus patients in Ontario hospitals, down from 688 a week ago.

The ministry says 47 percent of hospital patients were admitted because of COVID-19, and 53 percent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.

Among those hospitalized, 179 are in intensive care compared to 220 a week ago and 246 two weeks ago.

The ministry says 79 percent of intensive care unit patients were admitted due to COVID-19, and 21 percent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.

In the same context, Ontario laboratories processed 10,433 tests in the past 24 hours, resulting in a positivity rate of 12.2 percent, according to the Ministry of Health.

The province reported 1,447 laboratory-confirmed cases today, but this number is lower than the true number due to testing limitations.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario said it is likely that there are ten times more cases on the day the virus is detected due to testing restrictions.

Among the recent cases, 730 individuals received three doses, 394 received two doses, 211 were not fully vaccinated, and 112 had an unknown vaccination status.

So far, 89 percent of Ontario residents aged five and older have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 86 percent have received two doses, and 50 percent have received three doses.

Yesterday, the province lifted mask mandates in most indoor places across the province, including schools.

However, masks are still required during transit on public transportation, in hospitals, long-term care homes, and prisons until at least April 27.