Inside an ICU where 70 per cent of COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated

This is where the Omicron wave is starting to show its worst side: inside the ICU at Toronto General, which is filling up with critically ill COVID-19 patients, the majority of whom are unvaccinated.

There are twice as many COVID-19 patients here than two weeks ago.

“Based on the pace of which we're seeing the phone calls and referrals, we’re looking at that slope having a very steep uptick, so we are preparing ourselves for an increase in numbers of people who are seeking our support,” Dr. John Granton, head of respirology at University Health Network (UHN) and a critical care specialist at Toronto General, told CTV News.

Some hospitals are not seeing such a high percentage of unvaccinated cases — but part of this is that unvaccinated patients are more likely to have severe cases, and thus are more likely to have been transferred to hospitals like Toronto General that are equipped to care for the worst ICU cases.

And the sick patients in this ICU are younger.