Ottawa Public Health urges parents to keep kids home from school when sick
Ottawa's top doctor is urging people to stay home when they're sick this fall, to help slow down the spread of respiratory viruses in the community.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches says the Ottawa Public Health respiratory virus indicators show high levels of COVID-19 in wastewater surveillance and testing, while RSV levels are "moderate."
"There's general advice that works for all respiratory illnesses," Etches told CTV Morning Live on Friday.
"The things we can do that help slow down spread in the community is to keep our children home from school when they have a fever and respiratory symptoms, without any medication that's bringing any fever down, 24 hours without a fever and improving symptoms is when you can start to consider kids going back to school.
"If they have diarrhea or vomiting as part of that, you have to wait 48 hours."
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Etches says COVID continues to circulate in the community, but most children will be able to handle it without visiting the hospital.
"We have a better level of protection across the population. It's an infection that most children will be able to handle at home," Etches said. "What I would say is when you are sick with any respiratory symptoms, it's best to avoid visiting people at higher risk – so in long-term care, retirement homes, certainly hospitals."
In a letter to parents and caregivers ahead of the new school year, Etches warned the fall will bring an increase in respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza and RSV, and warned about a rise in whooping cough (pertussis) activity in Ottawa.
Tips for parents and children to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses this fall include keeping your vaccinations up to date, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough and washing your hands often.
"I've been reviewing how to wash your hands with my children," Etches said.
"Just a reminder; how do you do a good job, enough soap, take long enough," Etches said.
Etches recommends getting the updated COVID vaccine and the annual flu vaccine this fall.
"We're going to have a vaccine that's better matched to the type of COVID that's circulating now," Etches says. "This is good news; the recommendation will be for everyone over six months of age to get that updated COVID (vaccine), to have the best protection you can against what's circulating."
Both vaccines are expected to be available at pharmacies, local health care providers and Ottawa Public Health community clinics this fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet
The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
Federal government to further limit number of international students
The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year. It's the government's latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns.
Exploding electronic devices kill 20, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 20 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000.
Here's why you should get all your vaccines as soon as possible
With all these shots, some Canadians may have questions about the benefit of each vaccine, whether they should get every shot and how often to get them, and if it's safe to get them all at once or if they should space them out.
'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga
Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
Search for suspect in Kentucky highway shooting ends with discovery of body believed to be his
Authorities say they believe the body of a man suspected of shooting and wounding five people on a Kentucky interstate highway has been found.
First-of-its-kind facility hopes to launch Canada into rare earths market
A Saskatchewan organization is breaking ground as the first to commercially produce rare earth metals in North America.
Jeremy Dutcher makes Canadian music history
Jeremy Dutcher made Canadian music history Tuesday night by winning a second Polaris Music Prize for his second album, Motewolonuwok.
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.