OTTAWA -- An Ottawa resident who tested positive for COVID-19 is now being treated in hospital.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches told reporters during a conference call Tuesday afternoon that the person hospitalized is over the age of 60. Etches says the confirmed case of novel coronavirus is related to travel.
Ottawa Public Health released no other details about the confirmed case.
There are 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa. No new cases were reported on Tuesday.
Dr. Etches says all 13 confirmed cases are travel related or someone who was in close contact with someone who recently travelled.
In her daily update to the media on the situation in Ottawa, Ottawa’s top doctor reiterated her comments from the weekend that there could be up to 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa.
“Based on the estimates of the ratio of confirmed cases to undetected cases in returning travellers two weeks ago, we do estimate there could potentially be between 200 and 1,000 cases in the community,” said Dr. Etches.
On Tuesday, Ciena confirmed a third employee at its Ottawa headquarters tested positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Etches says residents should self-isolate for 14 days if they have provided care for or spent extensive time with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected of having COVID-19.
“By social distancing and self-isolating, if you meet the criteria, you could be saving lives - the life of a parent, a neighbor, a grandparent, a co-worker. Stay home if you’re able to,” said Dr. Etches.
Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health also encouraged people to limit the size of social gatherings, even if everyone is healthy.
Ottawa Public Health is also reminding all returning travellers, including travellers from the United States, to self-isolate for 14 days after their return.
COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre
Ottawa’s COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre has seen 1,300 people since it opened last Friday at Brewer Arena. Dr. Etches says 993 people have received the test for COVID-19.
Etches told reporters it takes about a day to process the test results.
The COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ottawa Public Health has guidelines to determine if you should go to the COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre.
185 cases in Ontario
On Tuesday, nine more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Ontario, bringing the total to 186 cases. Five people have recovered.
Five of the new cases on Tuesday are in Hamilton.
