More community vaccination clinics in Ottawa closing
Three more vaccination clinics in Ottawa are closing down as a majority of residents have received their jabs.
The clinics at the Nepean Sportsplex and Ottawa City Hall are delivering their final doses Monday. The clinic for post-secondary students at the University of Ottawa's Minto Sports Complex also ends Monday.
The vaccination clinic at the Nepean Sportsplex was one of the first mass immunization clinics in the city, as the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines became available to the public. A clinic later opened at Ottawa City Hall, and it was there that two former prime ministers received their jabs. Both Joe Clark and Jean Chrétien were photographed being vaccinated at the city hall clinic.
As of last Friday, more than 793,000 residents of Ottawa had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and more than 734,000 have had both. Eighty per cent of residents 12 and older are considered fully vaccinated.
The city has been scaling back its community clinics for weeks as vaccination coverage continues to rise. The clinics at the Eva James Memorial Community Centre and the Ruddy Family YMCA/YWCA will continue to operate for the time being.
OPH is also operating neighbourhood vaccination hubs across the city and businesses, places of worship, and other community groups can request mobile clinics. Vaccination continues to be an option at select pharmacies in the city as well.
Experts warn of potential rise in cases as classes resume
Some experts remain concerned about a rise in COVID-19 cases across Ontario, driven by the Delta variant.
"There are enough people who can get this infection who will need hospital level care so we have to be careful with those rising cases," said infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch, in an interview with CTV News Ottawa.
Over the weekend, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson urged as many people as possible to get their vaccinations, with the goal of reaching 90 per cent coverage among the eligible population.
Ontario saw three days in a row with more than 800 new cases this past weekend, including 944 cases on Saturday, the highest one-day case count in nearly five months. Ottawa Public Health reported 49 cases on Friday, 37 cases on Saturday, 55 on Sunday, and 29 on Monday.
Students in Ottawa's two English school boards return to class this week. The Ottawa Catholic Board's first day of school is on Tuesday, with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board getting back to class two days later. Experts warn a return to the classroom could lead to a spike in cases.
"The question is to what extent will this be amplified?" Bogoch said. "I think if the schools have the tools to adhere to the protocols as best they can, then we’ll hopefully see less amplification."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.