There's 1 exception to Ottawa's low and stable COVID snapshot
Average test positivity is seen as moderate and continues to rise
Recent developments:
- Ottawa's COVID-19 numbers are mostly low and stable.
- Its average test positivity continues to rise.
- Five more local COVID deaths have been reported.
The latest
Ottawa's pandemic trends are mostly low and stable, according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).
OPH has not indicated any concerning trend since early this year, 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 22, the average coronavirus wastewater level has been low and stable for about two weeks.
This average generally stayed within the same range for a year, so this month has broken that trend.
it's currently at its lowest reading since February 2022.
Hospitals
The number of Ottawa residents in local hospitals for COVID-19 has been slowly dropping. The number was eight 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
The city's weekly average test positivity rate, which sits around 13 per cent, has been rising for a week based on about 80 tests a day. It's currently seen by OPH as moderate.
Ottawa has a stable six active COVID outbreaks, which OPH considers low.
The health unit reported 36 more COVID cases since Tuesday and three more COVID deaths, bringing its 2023 total to 76 people.
Vaccines
Eleven 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 moderate based on a high average test positivity. Its other trends are seen as low.
Coronavirus wastewater averages are otherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.
Hospitalizations and deaths
Eastern Ontario communities outside Ottawa report about 10 COVID-19 hospitalizations, with two patients in intensive care.
That regional count doesn't include Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health, which shares a weekly average of its local hospitalization count: four in its most recent weekly update, with two in intensive care.
Western Quebec has 23 hospital patients with COVID. None of them are in intensive care. The province reported that region's 478th COVID death in its weekly update.
HPE reported its 117th COVID death.
Vaccines
The Kingston area's health unit says 12 per cent of its population age five and older have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months.
That number is also 12 per cent in HPE, and it remains unavailable elsewhere.
