COVID-19 response cost Ottawa Public Health $60 million in 2022
Ottawa Public Health spent $60 million responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, as the health unit faced the Omicron wave, a new wave of COVID-19 at the start of the school year and administered tens of thousands of vaccines.
A report for Monday's Board of Health meeting shows the health unit posted a $307,000 deficit in 2022.
The report, prepared by medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches, says Ottawa Public Health spent $60 million on the general response to the COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccine program and school-focused nursing initiative.
"OPH started 2022 with the peak of Omicron and the biggest response it ever mounted to COVID-19, working with the City’s Emergency Operations Centre and community partners to increase uptake and coverage of COVID-19 booster vaccination," Etches writes.
Ottawa Public Health administered over 392,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses through its various clinics last year, and also supported 1,151 COVID-19 outbreaks in high-risk settings.
Ottawa saw several waves of COVID-19 infections in 2022, and there were more deaths from the virus in 2022 than in 2021. The 2022 Ottawa Public Health Annual report says the health unit responded to an "unprecedented and unanticipated COVID-19 resurgence" in the third quarter of 2022, which included 265 outbreaks in high-risk settings.
A total of 382 Ottawa residents died due to COVID-19 in 2022, compared to 230 deaths linked to novel coronavirus in Ottawa in 2021.
The COVID-19 response was fully funded by the Ministry of Health. The ministry provided $89 million in one-time funding for Ottawa Public Health's COVID-19 response in 2021, and the health unit spent a total of $170 million on COVID-19.
Correction
Ottawa Public Health spent $170 million on the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.