Levels of respiratory viruses circulating in Ottawa 'remain high', Ottawa Public Health warns
Ottawa Public Health warns the levels of respiratory viruses circulating in the community "remain high" heading into the first weekend of December.
In its weekly Respiratory Virus Snapshot, OPH says the wastewater viral signals show "moderate" levels of RSV and COVID-19, while the influenza levels are "high".
"If we only looked at COVID-19 levels, we'd see the overall trends with our COVID-19 monitoring indicators are down compared to a month ago," OPH said on Twitter. "So just focusing on COVID-19 levels could make you think the overall levels of risk are lower than before.
"Our friends at CHEO have seen significant volumes of other respiratory viruses, like flu & RSV. And those viruses do have an impact on the levels of risk as a community, including our health system."
With the levels of respiratory viruses circulating in Ottawa remaining high, OPH reminds people to wear masks and stay home if you are sick to help limit the spread of viruses.
Two more Ottawa residents have died due to COVID-19 this week.
In its twice weekly COVID-19 report, Ottawa Public Health reports 154 new cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa since Tuesday, and two new deaths.
There are 17 Ottawa residents in hospital because of an active COVID-19 infection, down from 18 on Tuesday. There are four people 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.
- The Ottawa Hospital: 80 patients
- Queensway Carleton Hospital: 19 patients
- Montfort Hospital: 9 patients
- CHEO: Two patients
Since the first case of COVID-19 in Ottawa in March 2020, there have been 86,525 total cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, including 970 deaths.
OTTAWA'S KEY COVID-19 STATISTICS
- COVID-19 cases per 100,000 (Nov. 21-27): 21.2
- Seven-day average of positivity rate in the Ottawa community, including long-term care: 9.8 per cent
- Known active cases: 322
COVID-19 VACCINES IN OTTAWA
Updated Nov. 28.
- Ottawa residents with 1 dose (5+): 923,947
- Ottawa residents with 2 doses (5+): 891,044
- Ottawa residents with 3 doses (5+): 609,247
- Ottawa residents with 4 doses (12+): 302,417
- Share of population five and older with at least one dose: 93 per cent
- Share of population five and older with at least two doses: 90 per cent
- Share of population five and older with at least three doses: 61 per cent
- Share of population 12 and older with at least four doses: 33 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: 4 in hospital, 0 in ICU
- Hastings Prince Edward Public Health: 2 in hospital, 0 in ICU (Updated on Tuesdays only)
- Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health: 17 in hospital, 6 in ICU (Updated on Tuesdays only)
- Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit: 12 in hospital, 0 in ICU (Updated on Tuesdays)
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit: 1 in hospital, 0 in ICU (Updated on Thursdays)
- Outaouais (Gatineau and western Quebec): 93 in hospital, 1 in ICU
COVID-19 OUTBREAKS
Ottawa Public Health is currently reporting active outbreaks in the following locations
- 9 in hospitals
- 4 in long-term care homes
- 5 in retirement homes
- 1 in group homes
A full list of locations with active outbreaks is available on OPH's COVID-19 outbreak dashboard.
INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS
- 1 in a hospital
- 1 in a retirement home
A full list of locations with active outbreaks is available on OPH's outbreak dashboard.
OTHER ONGOING RESPIRATORY OUTBREAKS
- 1 in a group home
- 22 in licensed child care settings
- 2 in long-term care homes
- 18 in schools
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to quash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer's disease
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
B.C. court date set for 3 accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three suspects accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year are scheduled to appear in court in Surrey on Tuesday.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.