OTTAWA -- Good morning. Here is the latest news on COVID-19 and its impact on Ottawa.

Fast Facts:

  • Ottawa Public Health reported 15 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, as hospitalization numbers dropped to their lowest this year.
  • More than 18,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in Ottawa on Tuesday, surpassing Monday's short-lived record.
  • Premier Doug Ford is considering moving Ontario to Step 2 of its reopening plan early. 

COVID-19 by the numbers in Ottawa (Ottawa Public Health data):

  • New COVID-19 cases: 15 new cases on Wednesday
  • Total COVID-19 cases: 27,604
  • COVID-19 cases per 100,000 (previous seven days): 11.9 (down from 12.7)
  • Positivity rate in Ottawa: 1.7 per cent (June 15-21)
  • Reproduction Number: 0.77 (seven day average)

Testing:

Who should get a test?

Ottawa Public Health says you can get a COVID-19 test at an assessment centre, care clinic, or community testing site if any of the following apply to you:

  • You are showing COVID-19 symptoms;
  • You have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by Ottawa Public Health or exposure notification through the COVID Alert app;
  • You are a resident or work in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified and informed by Ottawa Public Health;
  • You are a resident, a worker or a visitor to long-term care, retirement homes, homeless shelters or other congregate settings (for example: group homes, community supported living, disability-specific communities or congregate settings, short-term rehab, hospices and other shelters);
  • You are a person who identifies as First Nations, Inuit or Métis;
  • You are a person travelling to work in a remote First Nations, Inuit or Métis community;
  • You received a preliminary positive result through rapid testing;
  • You require testing 72 hours before a scheduled (non-urgent or emergent) surgery (as recommended by your health care provider);
  • You are a patient and/or their 1 accompanying escort tra­velling out of country for medical treatment;
  • You are an international student that has passed their 14-day quarantine period;
  • You are a farm worker;
  • You are an educator who cannot access pharmacy-testing; or
  • You are in a targeted testing group as outlined in guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Where to get tested for COVID-19 in Ottawa:

There are several sites for COVID-19 testing in Ottawa. To book an appointment, visit https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/shared-content/assessment-centres.aspx

  • The Brewer Ottawa Hospital/CHEO Assessment Centre: Open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • COVID-19 Drive-Thru Assessment Centre at 300 Coventry Road: Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The Moodie Care and Testing Centre: Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
  • The Heron Care and Testing Centre: Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • The Ray Friel Care and Testing Centre: Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • North Grenville COVID-19 Assessment Centre (Kemptville) – 15 Campus Drive: Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Centretown Community Health Centre: Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Sandy Hill Community Health Centre: Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 pm.
  • Somerset West Community Health Centre: Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday

Symptoms:

Classic Symptoms: fever, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath

Other symptoms: sore throat, difficulty swallowing, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pneumonia, new or unexplained runny nose or nasal congestion

Less common symptoms: unexplained fatigue, muscle aches, headache, delirium, chills, red/inflamed eyes, croup

Hospitalizations drop to lowest point this year in Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health says 15 more people in the city have tested positive for COVID-19 and one more person has died.

The number of Ottawa residents hospitalized with COVID-19 is also at its lowest level all year, dropping below 10 for the first time in 2021.

 

Ottawa sets new daily vaccine record

More than 18,000 COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Ottawa on Tuesday, a new record for the city.

That surpassed the record set the previous day, on Monday, when more than 17,600 doses were administered.

COVID-19 vaccine Ottawa

Doug Ford considering moving Ontario to Step 2 of reopening on June 30, sources say

Premier Doug Ford is considering moving up the second step of Ontario’s economic reopening by two days.

CTV News Toronto has learned a cabinet meeting on Wednesday considered bumping up Step 2 to June 30, allowing personal care services and larger outdoor gatherings to resume.

It was originally scheduled for July 2, which is 21 days since Ontario entered Step 1.