COVID-19 levels remain high as school year approaches, Ottawa Public Health says
Ottawa Public Health says there are "encouraging" signs about the COVID-19 situation in the capital, but warns COVID-19 levels remain high in the community just weeks before the start of the school year.
Four new deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported in Ottawa this week, while the number of outbreaks in long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals and congregate care settings have increased.
The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa surpassed 80,000 this week. The actual number of cases is far higher due to limits on testing eligibility for residents.
"Our indicators are beginning to decline, & that’s encouraging. But COVID-19 levels remain high in our community," Ottawa Public Health said on Twitter.
"Let's get ahead of the fall & do what we can to minimize impacts."
The health unit is encouraging people to be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster doses, and wants parents and guardians to book a vaccine appointment for children before the start of the school year.
As of Friday, there are 18 Ottawa residents in hospital with an active COVID-19 infection, down from 19 on Tuesday. There is one person in the ICU.
OPH hospitalization figures only represent Ottawa residents who are in hospital because of an active case of COVID-19. Local hospitals report higher figures, which include patients who were admitted for reasons other than COVID-19 but have tested positive and patients who are not from Ottawa.
Here is a look at how many COVID-19 patients are in each hospital:
- The Ottawa Hospital: 81 patients (down from 86 patients on Tuesday)
- Queensway Carleton Hospital: 30 patients (up from 22 patients on Tuesday)
- Montfort Hospital: Seven patients (up from six patients on Tuesday)
- CHEO: Six patients (up from four patients on Tuesday)
Twelve new COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared in the COVID-19.
Ottawa Public Health reported 286 new laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa since Tuesday.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, there have been 80,037 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, including 866 deaths.
The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa is considered an underrepresentation of the true amount of COVID-19 in the community due to provincial restrictions on who can access a PCR test.
OTTAWA'S KEY COVID-19 STATISTICS
- COVID-19 cases per 100,000 (Aug. 11 – 17): 47.6 (down from 56.8)
- Seven-day average of positivity rate in the Ottawa community, including long-term care: 13 per cent
- Known active cases: 845 (-46)
COVID-19 VACCINES IN OTTAWA
Updated Aug. 15
- Ottawa residents with 1 dose (5+): 920,347
- Ottawa residents with 2 doses (5+): 886,272
- Ottawa residents with 3 doses (12+): 588,933
- Share of population five and older with at least one dose: 93 per cent
- Share of population five and older fully vaccinated: 89 per cent
- Share of population 12 and older with at least three doses: 64 per cent
*Statistics on Ottawa residents with one or more doses include anyone with an Ottawa postal code who was vaccinated anywhere in Ontario.
AROUND THE REGION
- Eastern Ontario Health Unit: 9 in hospital, 1 in ICU
- Hastings Prince Edward Public Health: 20 in hospital, 1 in ICU (Updated on Tuesdays only)
- Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health: 11 in hospital, 4 in ICU (as of Aug. 16)
- Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit: 6 in hospital, 1 in ICU (Updated on Wednesdays)
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit: 10 in hospital, 0 in ICU
- Outaouais (Gatineau and western Quebec): 100 in hospital, 3 in ICU
COVID-19 OUTBREAKS
Ottawa Public Health is currently reporting active outbreaks in the following locations (as of Friday, Aug. 19):
- 9 long-term care homes
- 22 retirement homes
- 15 hospital units
- 5 other congregate settings (group homes, supported independent living, etc.)
OPH no longer reports outbreaks in schools and childcare settings nor community outbreaks, such as those linked to local businesses, religious institutions, or sports and recreation activities.
A full list of locations with active outbreaks is available on OPH's COVID-19 dashboard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Wildfire near Fort McMurray more than triples overnight, several evacuation alerts remain in place
The fire burning near Fort McMurray grew from 25 hectares to 5,500 hectares over the weekend.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.