The test-positivity rate of COVID-19 and deaths related to the disease declined in Thursday's week-over-week data from the provincial government.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations increased and the portion of lab-confirmed cases that were the BA.2 variant rose considerably.

The number of COVID-19 deaths over the past week was 20, compared to 24 the week before.

Hospitalizations rose from 354 to 403, compared to the previous week. That included an increase of seven to 152 for COVID-related illness, and a rise of 55 to 232 for incidental infection. Though the average for daily admissions over the week decreased from 34 to 28.

The lab test-positivity rate was 13 per cent, which was a slight decrease from 13.2 per cent in last Thursday's update.

The BA.2 lineage of Omicron accounted for 41.3 per cent of variants of concern, which was nearly double the previous week's percentage of 21.4.