Will Ottawa Public Health stop updating its COVID-19 dashboard?
Ottawa Public Health is clarifying the confusion that has been circulating on social media around its plans to phase out its COVID-19 dashboard.
While the current COVID-19 dashboard will be discontinued in February, the health unit pledges to continue to give updates about COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses circulating in the capital.
"It's worth noting that the data itself isn't going anywhere, either. Both the historical data from the COVID-19 dashboard and the latest raw data will still be available on our website," read a post on social media.
The health unit notes that in 2022 a whole new dashboard -- the Respiratory and Enteric Surveillance dashboard -- was launched to track the activity of respiratory viruses in the city. The new dashboard gets updated every Wednesday.
Since then, the COVID-19 dashboard has slowly become redundant, as its data has been available in the new respiratory dashboard, says Ottawa Public Health.
The information shared in the respiratory dashboard is meant help people assess their risks of capturing diseases rather than just providing data. It also shows seasonal trends, allowing people to have an idea about what’s going on in their communities, explains the public health agency.
“At some point in February, the COVID-19 dashboard will no longer be refreshed each week. We haven't finalized exactly when it'll happen, but we'll be sure to let you know when it does,” Ottawa Public Health said on social media.
While the pandemic isn’t over yet, the health unit notes, people are asked to keep checking the respiratory dashboard, which will be updated on a weekly basis.
"And please keep assessing your risks. Keep staying up to date with your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. Keep wearing well-fitted masks when needed. Keep using your layers. Take care, Ottawa," said Ottawa Public Health.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.