Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch says the surge in new COVID-19 cases is leading to more hospitalizations across Ontario.

“You’ve got very high case numbers. It is translating into a growing number of hospitalizations and growing number of ICU (intensive care unit) admissions,†he told CTV News Channel on Monday morning.

Bogoch explained it usually takes a couple of weeks for the recorded number of hospitalizations to tick upwards following an explosion of COVID-19 cases.

“We know that those are a lagging indicator. They’ve lagged and now they’re starting to go up,†he said.

The surge in cases, driven largely by the Omicron variant, will likely lead to more essential and non-essential workers to become infected, forcing them to stay home, Bogoch said.

“When you have such a burden of COVID-19 in the province you (have) got to ensure that vital sectors can still function,†he said.

For more, watch Bogoch’s interview above.