COVID-19: Two new deaths in Ottawa’s twice-weekly Public Health Update

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Ottawa

(Reported Tuesday, last updated Friday)

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2: New deaths

963: Total deaths

11: Ottawa residents hospitalized with an active infection

1: In the intensive care unit due to an active infection

95: Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals as of Sunday (including non-Ottawa residents), 41 hospitalized for COVID-19 (3 ​​in the ICU) and 54 for other reasons (2 in the ICU) Intensive care)

133: New COVID-19 cases (case numbers considered an underestimate with testing limited to certain groups)

86138: Total cases

302: Active cases

30: persistent outbreaks in institutional settings

13.6: Percentage of positivity tested in the community (average of seven days as of Sunday)

Source: Ottawa Public Health

The current state of public health in Ottawa

Trustees of Ottawa’s largest school board were preparing for a debate on Tuesday night about whether to require masks in schools again – although a report indicates that most students and staff have abandoned the practice.

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Less than 10 percent of students now wear a mask in Ottawa-Carleton School District School Board schools, according to an informal survey of principals included in the task force report. The survey found that about 15 to 20 percent of teachers wear masks.

At the same time, county and Ottawa public health officials are now recommending that people put masks back on to help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses among children. The “triple threat” of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), influenza and COVID-19 is sending record numbers of children to CHEO and other children’s hospitals.

Also Tuesday, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said on social media that some signs of COVID-19 disease have declined in recent weeks, but that the virus “continues to spread across the country and continues to cause significant levels of infection.” / disease.” Including both cases and people who are hospitalized.

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Monday’s national COVID-19 epidemiology update included 268 new deaths from COVID-19 in the previous week for a total of 47,468.

In its latest snapshot of COVID-19 last Thursday, Ottawa Public Health said COVID-19 continues to spread in Ottawa while levels of other respiratory viruses, such as influenza and RSV, are rising.

The agency noted that “due to ongoing changes to the data system, data on new hospitalizations for COVID-19 is not included in this week’s snapshot.”

The OPH also said Thursday that Ottawa residents can help the “unprecedented numbers” of infants and children who go to CHEO with respiratory viruses by wearing a well-equipped mask in indoor and/or crowded settings, staying home when sick and getting a vaccine. Flu and staying up to date on the COVID-19 vaccine.

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How to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (and influenza) in Ottawa

People can book vaccination appointments through Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by calling the Regional Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-943-3900 or making appointments through participating pharmacies. Or visit one of the city’s neighborhood health centers.

Flu vaccines are available at more than 250 pharmacies in Ottawa. OPH vaccination clinics serve children ages six months to five years and their family members and continue to serve people without OHIP who were unable to obtain the vaccine through pharmacies or health care providers.

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How to get tested and treated for COVID-19 in Ottawa

Antiviral treatments are available for people with symptoms — even if they are mild — who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19, but they should be taken within the first five days of symptoms starting.

People can use the Ontario COVID-19 Antiviral Therapy Screening Device to see if they are at increased risk of severe disease and might benefit from the medication.

With lab testing prioritized in the province for people at increased risk and in high-risk settings, Ottawa residents can learn more about who is eligible and how to book tests and seek treatment on the health unit’s website.

Where to get rapid COVID-19 tests in Ottawa

Ontario distributes free rapid antigen test kits through participating pharmacies and grocery store locations.

-With files from Jackie Miller

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