Recent developments:
- Ottawa hospitalizations, wastewater levels, and test positivity are increasing.
- Its outbreaks of COVID-19 are stable.
- Another Ottawa resident who had COVID has died.
- Hospitalizations are also increasing in the Outaouais.
Ottawa’s latest update
Wastewater
The level of coronavirus detected in Ottawa wastewater increased earlier this week
The most recent data available (the bold red line in the chart below) shows that the seven-day average calculated on June 26 is about four times what it was in early March, before the record peak.
Last week, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) said the city was entering a new pandemic wave.
Researchers who measured and shared the amount of nine coronaviruses in Ottawa’s wastewater reported new pandemic records for daily and weekly average readings in April 2022. The most recent data are from June 26 . (613covid.ca)
Hospitals
Ten Ottawa residents are in local hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, according to Tuesday’s OPH update. This figure was less than 10 for about two weeks.
One of these patients needs intensive care.
The above hospitalization figures do not include all patients. For example, they exclude patients admitted for other reasons who then test positive for COVID-19, those admitted for persistent complications of COVID-19, and those transferred from other health care units.
When these categories are included, there were 19 patients in their most recent snapshot, which is less than the last two weeks.
Ottawa Public Health has a COVID-19 hospital count that shows all hospital patients who have tested positive for COVID, including those admitted for other reasons, and who live in other areas. There were 19 on June 26th. (Ottawa Public Health)
Tests, outbreaks and cases
Testing strategies have changed with the contagious variant of Omicron, meaning that many cases of COVID-19 are not reflected in current counts. Public health only monitors and reports outbreaks in healthcare settings.
The average Ottawa positivity rate for all residents increases by about 14%. That figure had hovered between nine and 11 percent this month.
The capital has 15 active COVID outbreaks, which have remained stable in June.
On Tuesday, OPH reported 225 more cases over four days and one more death. They are the fourth person with COVID to die this month and the 819th in the city in total.
Vaccines
As of Monday’s weekly update, 92% of Ottawa residents age five or older had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 89% had at least two.
Sixty-four percent of Ottawa residents 12 years of age or older received at least three doses and 12 percent took four. Eligibility is more limited for the third and fourth dose than the first two.
Throughout the region
Wastewater levels are stable in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL) counties. They are low and stable in Kingston. The average rises slowly in Hawkesbury, falling from a peak in Casselman and low and stable in Cornwall.
Data from other parts of the region are at least one week old or not publicly available.
Western Quebec reports 57 hospitalizations for COVID-19, including those no longer considered an active case. That figure was in the 1940s for about three weeks. He also has a COVID ICU patient again.
Eastern Ontario communities outside of Ottawa are reporting 19 COVID hospitalizations, which are stable, with an increase to four COVID ICU patients.
This does not include Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPE), which has a different counting method. His hospitalizations are low and stable.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) reported on Tuesday its 233rd death from COVID in total. Its positivity in the test and the number of outbreaks are stable.
Vaccines
More than 5.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given to people in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. HPE exceeded 400,000 doses for residents last week.
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For each of the Eastern Ontario health units, there are between 81 and 92 per cent of eligible residents with at least two doses of vaccine and between 59 and 71 per cent of adults with at least three.