Low COVID-19 figures resemble end of the mask mandate era
Wastewater average, hospitalizations back where they were in March 2022
Recent developments:
- Ottawa's COVID-19 numbers are low and stable, or dropping.
- Four more local COVID deaths have been reported.
The latest
Ottawa's pandemic trends are generally low and stable, and some are dropping, according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).
The city's average wastewater coronavirus reading and hospitalization count are around where they were March 10, 2022 — when Ontario still had widespread mask mandates and just after it lifted many gathering limits.
The average COVID test positivity and number of outbreaks in Ottawa are lower this week than they were at that time.
OPH has not indicated any concerning trend recently, which is similar to the wider region outside of Ottawa.
Experts recommend people wear masks indoors. Staying up to date with COVID vaccines can also help protect vulnerable people. Other guidance can vary between Ontario and Quebec.
Wastewater
Data from the research team shows, as of the most recent update May 9, the average coronavirus wastewater level has been low and slowly dropping this month.
This average generally stayed within the same range for a year, so this is an outlier.
Hospitals
The number of Ottawa residents in local hospitals for COVID-19 has been slowly dropping. The number was 10 in Friday's update, with no patients in ICU.
A separate count that includes patients who tested positive for COVID after being admitted for other reasons, those admitted for lingering COVID complications, and those transferred from other health units is stable.
Tests, outbreaks and deaths
Ottawa has a stable five active COVID outbreaks and an average test positivity rate around eight per cent. According to OPH, both numbers are considered low.
OPH reported 24 more COVID cases since Tuesday and the death of someone age 90 or above who had COVID.
Vaccines
Fifteen per cent of Ottawans age five and older have had a COVID-19 vaccine dose within the last six months, with older age groups having higher vaccination rates. This does not factor in immunity from getting COVID.
Ontario's vaccine recommendations changed in early April to focus on higher-risk people.
As of the most recent weekly update, 85 per cent of Ottawa residents had at least one COVID vaccine dose, 82 per cent had at least two, 56 per cent at least three and 31 per cent at least four.
Across the region
Spread
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU)'s COVID-19 risk level remains low based on trends such as wastewater and test positivity.
Coronavirus wastewater averages are low and stable in Kingston. They're otherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.
Hospitalizations and deaths
Eastern Ontario communities outside Ottawa report about 15 COVID-19 hospitalizations, with just one patient in intensive care in the Kingston area.
That regional count doesn't include Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health, which shares a weekly average of its local hospitalization count: two in its most recent weekly update.
Western Quebec has a stable 37 hospital patients with COVID. None of them are in intensive care. The province says two more of its residents who had COVID have died, bringing that region's death toll to 477.
On Friday the EOHU reported its 27th COVID death of 2023 and 304th overall.
Vaccines
The Kingston area's health unit says 14 per cent of its population age five and up have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months.
That number drops to 15 per cent in HPE, and it remains unavailable elsewhere.
