Two new COVID-19 deaths in Ottawa Wednesday

Ottawa Public Health is reporting two new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday and another drop in hospitalization figures.

OPH has reported six COVID-19 deaths in the city since Monday.

The number of residents in hospital because of an active case of COVID-19 fell to nine on Wednesday from 11 on Tuesday. This is the lowest number of hospitalized residents so far this year. There are no Ottawa residents in intensive care because of an active case of COVID-19.

OPH hospitalization figures only represent Ottawa residents who are in hospital because of an active case of COVID-19. Local hospitals report higher figures, which include patients who were admitted for reasons other than COVID-19 but have tested positive and patients who are not from Ottawa.

Here is a look at how many COVID-19 patients are in each hospital:

• The Ottawa Hospital: 44 patients
• Queensway Carleton Hospital: 11 patients
• Montfort Hospital: 15 patients (As of May 17)
• CHEO: Two patients

OPH reported 86 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Daily case counts are considered an underrepresentation of the true amount of COVID-19 in the community due to provincial restrictions on who can access a PCR test.

Since the first case of COVID-19 in March 2020, there have been 72,882 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, including 799 deaths.

The COVID-19 viral signal in Ottawa’s wastewater continues to decline. The seven-day mean viral signal is at its lowest level since March 23.

Ontario health officials reported 26 new deaths caused directly by COVID-19 and six where the disease contributed but was not the direct cause. Sixteen of those deaths were previously reported as deaths with missing data or an unknown cause.

There are 1,248 people across Ontario in hospitals with COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning, including 163 individuals in ICU. 

OTTAWA'S KEY COVID-19 STATISTICS

• COVID-19 cases per 100,000 (May 10 to 16): 46.3 (up from 46.1)  
• Seven-day average of positivity rate in the Ottawa community, excluding long-term care homes (May 17): 9.52 per cent
• Known active cases: 712 (-17)

COVID-19 VACCINES IN OTTAWA

Updated May 16.

• Ottawa residents with 1 dose (5+): 916,525 
• Ottawa residents with 2 doses (5+): 880,837 
• Ottawa residents with 3 doses (12+): 576,065 
• Share of population five and older with at least one dose: 92 per cent
• Share of population five and older fully vaccinated: 89 per cent
• Share of population 12 and older with at least three doses: 63 per cent

*Statistics on Ottawa residents with one or more doses include anyone with an Ottawa postal code who was vaccinated anywhere in Ontario.

AROUND THE REGION

• Eastern Ontario Health Unit: 10 in hospital, 1 in ICU
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health: 26 in hospital, 0 in ICU
• Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health: 12 in hospital, 3 in ICU
• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit: 9 in hospital, 3 in ICU
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit: 15 in hospital, 1 in ICU
• Outaouais (Gatineau and western Quebec): 68 in hospital, 2 in ICU

These figures are based on the latest data from each respective health unit at the time of publishing.

COVID-19 OUTBREAKS

Ottawa Public Health is currently reporting active outbreaks in the following locations:

• 8 long-term care homes
• 12 retirement homes
• 8 hospital units
• 2 other congregate settings (group homes, supported independent living, etc.)

OPH no longer reports outbreaks in schools and childcare settings nor community outbreaks, such as those linked to local businesses, religious institutions, or sports and recreation activities.

A full list of locations with active outbreaks is available on OPH's COVID-19 dashboard.