There is a warning from a critical care doctor that some Toronto hospitals are seeing a surge in COVID-19 patients in their intensive care units as infections in the province continue to rise.

Dr. Michael Warner is the medical director of critical care at Michael Garron Hospital in East York.

He says overnight from Monday to Tuesday, 26 new patients with COVID-19 were admitted to ICUs across the province, bringing the total to 193.

“In Toronto, about 14 percent of ICU patients have COVID. Actually in York and Halton Regions, it’s almost 24 percent of the ICU patients have COVID-19,” Warner explained, “And in some hospitals in Toronto it’s over 40 percent, so the numbers are not looking good.”

ICU occupancy of more than 150 in Ontario challenges the healthcare system’s ability to keep up with scheduled surgeries and other elective procedures.

Health Minister Christine Elliot confirmed on Tuesday some hospitals have been forced to cancel non emergency procedures due to capacity issues, including Scarborough General Hospital.

Dr. Warner will be a guest on Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with Libby Znaimer Wednesday after the noon news.