School-aged kids make up largest portion of active COVID case in Ottawa
A concerning trend is taking shape in the capital with students back is school for few weeks now.
School-aged children are making up the largest portion of active COVID-19 cases in Ottawa
"Woke up in the night with some COVID symptoms, back in schools, so she needs to get the test so she can go back, you know get the negative test and get peace of mind she's COVID free," said Mike Dinelle who was getting his daughter Eva tested on Sunday.
Just weeks into the school year, cases among students in the capital have risen quickly. Currently, there are 17 outbreaks at schools and childcare centres on the city.
"It makes us feel uneasy; this is the third time in a month that we're here because there were symptoms and then a close contact with her," said Dinelle.
"I really worry that they have it, given that they go to school every day," another parent who was getting a COVID-19 test for their child on Sunday.
Approximately 35 per cent of the 474 active cases in Ottawa right now are in those under 19-years-old. Children 9 and under account for 110 active cases of novel coronavirus, the highest number of active cases among age groups.
However, concern about this trend varies among experts.
"Right now the outbreaks have been limited, they've been spreading from one child to two to four children, with Delta I think that's a win. We've been able to limit the spread to that few," said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health.
"I don't like what Dr. Moore said, that we're okay if one individual transmits it to two or three versus five or six," said epidemiologist Dr. Raywat Deonandan.
Meanwhile, there are encouraging signs when it comes to overall case counts in the province, which have held steady for weeks now, and hospitalizations to remain manageable.
"We are not having this dramatic increase of a fourth wave, we're in a plateau I would call it, so far," said Dr. Ronald St. John, former federal manager to the SARS response in Canada.
With the fall now here and winter around the corner, many experts are not yet ready to declare the virus endemic.
"I would hate to think this is where we level off for an endemic phase of this disease, I think it's way too early to talk about it yet," said Dr. Deonandan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.