Ontario continues to see a decline in the number of COVID-19 patients in provincial hospitals and intensive care units.

The province says there were 1,704 people in hospital due to the virus on Saturday, of which 414 were in intensive care.

That's down from the 1,829 hospitalizations and 435 ICU patients reported the day before.

The province is also reporting 35 more deaths linked to COVID-19. 

Ontario reported 2,944 new cases of the virus, though the number is likely higher due to policies that limit access to testing for many residents. 

More than 40 per cent of long-term care homes were reporting virus outbreaks as of Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2022

The Canadian Press