Ottawa's COVID-19 hospitalizations hold steady as Ontario prepares to lift restrictions
Hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 remained steady in Ottawa, as Ontario unveiled its plan to begin lifting restrictions on gatherings and non-essential businesses.
Two new deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported in Ottawa on Thursday, bringing the number of deaths linked to COVID-19 to 652 since the start of the pandemic.
Ottawa Public Health reported 84 people in Ottawa hospitals with an active COVID-19 infection on Thursday, up from 83 on Wednesday. There are eight people in intensive care units with an active case of COVID-19.
Ottawa Public Health reports only hospitalizations among Ottawa residents with a hospital intervention for active COVID-19. To count as a hospitalization intervention, the hospitalization must involve treatment for an active COVID-19 infection or have a hospital stay extended because of active COVID-19. This also applies to people who may acquire COVID-19 while in hospital. Local hospitals have reported higher numbers of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Queensway Carleton Hospital says there are 63 patients at the hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 and there are 53 patients with COVID-19 at the Montfort Hospital. There are 167 COVID-19 cases involving patients at the Ottawa Hospital, while CHEO is reporting eight COVID-19 admissions.
On Thursday, Ontario announced a three-step plan to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions.
"We can be confident that the worst is behind us as we look to cautiously ease public health measures," Premier Doug Ford said Thursday. "We are now in a position to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures."
Starting Jan. 31, restaurants, gyms and cinemas can open at 50 per cent capacity. Gathering limits will increase to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
OTTAWA'S KEY COVID-19 STATISTICS
- COVID-19 cases per 100,000 (Jan. 12 to 18): 240.6 (down from 283.3)
- Positivity rate in Ottawa (Jan. 12 to 18): 19.7 per cent (down from 21.5 per cent)
- Reproduction number (Seven day average): 0.77 (up from 0.62)
- Known active cases: 3,877 (-251)
Reproduction values greater than 1 indicate the virus is spreading and each case infects more than one contact. If it is less than 1, it means spread is slowing.
The number of known active cases is the number of confirmed cases (based on testing) minus the numbers of resolved cases and deaths.
HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OTTAWA
There are 84 people in Ottawa hospitals on Thursday with an active COVID-19 infection, up from 83 on Wednesday.
There are eight people in the ICU, down from 10 on Wednesday.
Age categories of people in hospital:
- 0-9: 0
- 10-19: 2
- 20-29: 2 (1 in ICU)
- 30-39: 2
- 40-49: 6
- 50-59: 5
- 60-69: 14 (2 in ICU)
- 70-79: 23 (4 in ICU)
- 80-89: 22 (1 in ICU)
- 90+: 8
(Ottawa Public Health is now reporting people in hospital with an "active" infection)
COVID-19 VACCINES IN OTTAWA
As of Wednesday:
- Ottawa residents with 1 dose (5+): 903,745 (+600)
- Ottawa residents with 2 doses (5+): 837,010 (+788)
- Ottawa residents with 3 doses (12+): 480,872 (+6,206)
- Share of population five and older with at least one dose: 91 per cent
- Share of population five and older fully vaccinated: 84 per cent
*Statistics on Ottawa residents with one or two doses include anyone with an Ottawa postal code who was vaccinated anywhere in Ontario.
AROUND THE REGION
- Eastern Ontario Health Unit: 65 in hospital, 8 in ICU*
- Hastings Prince Edward Public Health: 35 in hospital, 7 in ICU
- Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health: 14 in hospital, 5 in ICU
- Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit: 20 in hospital, 7 in ICU
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit: 14 in hospital, 0 in ICU
- Outaouais (Gatineau and western Quebec): 135 in hospital, 6 in ICU
These figures are based on the latest data from each respective health unit at the time of publishing.
*The EOHU says it is working on a new reporting system. Figures are as of Jan. 17, 2022.
COVID-19 OUTBREAKS
Ottawa Public Health is currently reporting active outbreaks in the following locations:
- 24 long-term care homes
- 44 retirement homes
- 35 hospital units
- 56 other congregate settings (group homes, supported independent living, etc.)
OPH paused reporting on community outbreaks in workplaces, etc. as of Jan. 2.
A full list of locations with active outbreaks is available on OPH's COVID-19 dashboard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.