TORONTO — Ontario is reporting 1,691 new cases of COVID-19 today and 15 more deaths linked to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 455 new cases in Toronto, 326 in Peel Region and 173 in York Region.

Today’s data is based on more than 31,200 completed tests.

The Ministry of Health says 1,041 people are in hospital, with 693 patients in intensive care and 480 on a ventilator.

Ontario says it administered 140,330 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine since Saturday’s report, for a total of more than eight million doses.

The latest figures come as bookings for COVID-19 vaccines through the provincial system open up for Ontarians aged 12 and up. 

They can book through the provincial online portal or call centre, as well as through pharmacies offering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The age group is becoming eligible a week ahead of schedule. 

The province says it made the change at the request of public health units. 

Only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use in people between the ages of 12 and 18. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2021.

The Canadian Press