Ontario is reporting the highest level of COVID deaths since May.

Health officials had warned the return of cooler weather would bring a surge of cases.

Data from the Health Ministry Thursday shows 109 people died from the virus the past seven days, a weekly death toll not seen since early May when 112 deaths were reported.

The number of people in hospital and intensive are with COVID also rose slightly but those number have stayed relatively stable in comparison.

Chief Medical Office Dr. Kieran Moore believes the newest strain of Omicron, and the threat posed by flu season, could put additional strain on hospitals in the coming weeks.

Meantime, in Ottawa residents are being urged to mask indoors and in crowded public spaces as the city’s public health unit reports high levels of the virus and its first influenza outbreak.

The provincial government lifted mask requirements across most of the province in June and recently removed the requirement for visitors and caregivers to wear masks in long term care homes.