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Ottawa
(Reported Friday, last update Tuesday)
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6: New deaths
933: Total deaths
21: Ottawa residents in hospital due to an active infection
3: In ICU because of an active infection
149: Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals as of Wednesday (includes non-Ottawa residents), 51 in hospital because of COVID-19 (6 in ICU) and 98 for other reasons (4 in ICU)
287: New COVID-19 cases (case numbers are considered underestimates with testing limited to certain groups)
85,504:Total cases
897: Active cases
52: Ongoing outbreaks in institutional settings
19.9: Per cent test positivity in the community (seven-day average as of Wednesday)
Source: Ottawa Public Health
The current public health situation in Ottawa
Ottawa Public Health’s weekly COVID-19 “snapshot” Thursday reported that levels of COVID-19 circulating in the city remain high.
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Among indicators that OPH tracks, the amount of the virus detected in wastewater remained high, the per cent of lab tests coming back positive was very high and new hospitalizations and confirmed outbreaks were moderate.
On Wednesday, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches urged people to get a COVID-19 booster and a flu shot this fall amid what’s shaping up to be “a very active respiratory illness season.”
The health unit confirmed the season’s first flu outbreak about a month earlier than usual with both lab-confirmed cases and the per cent of tests coming back positive on the rise.
Ottawa is also seeing more respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases. CHEO has flagged unprecedented volumes of babies and kids with respiratory symptoms from various viruses.
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There’s also more spread of COVID-19 as the weather cools.
The best protection — for individuals, their families and the health-care system — is to stay up to date on vaccinations, Etches said.
“This winter will be hard on our community as several respiratory viruses will be circulating simultaneously creating stressors on our community and our health-care system.”
People can help stem the spread of respiratory illnesses with actions including frequent hand washing, covering coughs, staying home when sick, keeping gatherings with others outside or in well-ventilated areas, and wearing a mask in crowded and indoor spaces.
How to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (and flu) in Ottawa
OPH said Thursday that there are 14 Neighbourhood Wellness Hubs where people can drop in to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
People can book vaccination appointments through Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 or make an appointment through participating pharmacies.
Everyone older than six months is eligible for a flu shot as of this week. They’re available at more than 250 Ottawa pharmacies.
OPH has launched flu shot clinics for children aged six months to two years, plus their household members and people without OHIP who can’t get a shot through a primary care provider or pharmacy.
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