Young people behind spike in COVID-19 numbers, says OPH

For the second day in a row, Ottawa's number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases has hit double digits part of a recent surge health officials say is linked to young people.

Another 16 cases of COVID-19 were reported by Ottawa Public Health on Sunday, following a similarly large spike of 19 cases on Saturday.

While COVID-19 casesin Ottawa "do cross all age groups," more than four in 10 recent casesinvolve people younger than 30, said Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa's chief medical officer,Sunday morning.

"Everybody needs social contact. People in their 20s have been doinga great job. They've been part of this collective effort to flatten the curve," she said via Skype.

"What we need to emphasize now is when we're going to with friends if they're not in our social circle, we need to keep the two metres' distance."

Indoor gatherings to blame, says Etches

There are now 98 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 48 since the same time last week.

The rise in confirmed cases of COVID-19 comes as the province of Ontario enters Stage 3 of its reopening plan, which means movie theatres, yoga studios, pubs and dine-in restaurants can all reopen.

• Quebec health minister may close bars if there's proof they're behind rise in COVID-19 cases

However, nothing in the data indicates the recent surge in cases is tied to a particular bar or restaurant in the city, Etches said, but rather gatherings atprivate dwellings and cottages.

"Many of the cases that are arising are due to that kind of scenario, where people are indoors, in closer contact, and someone's been sick. And then it spreads," Etches said.

It's important to encourage others to followpublic health recommendations, Etchesadded, regardless of a person's age.

She urged people to keep indoor gatherings small and not to mix social circles, while gatheringoutside whenever possible.

'I think we'll all be OK'

Colin Leger was one of many who did just that Sunday, as he got together with friendsat Ottawa's Mooney's Bay.

He said thespike in cases among younger people is concerning, and feels some of the blame placed on his fellow 20-somethingsmay be warranted.

After being cooped up for months, Leger said heunderstands why people want to get together again.

"The fact that we can get outside and actually see each other is quite a thrill," he said. "It's going to be quite different in the winter when we run out of this kind of weather."

He also hopes more of his peers follow the guidelines set by OPH.

"So long as we're staying two metres apart and wearing masks, I think we'll all be OK in the end," he said.

Not everyone agreeswearing masks is the answer, however. Gajda Alwaniwas one of dozens of people who attended another outdoor gathering Sunday: ananti-mask protest on Parliament Hill.

She said masks shouldbe voluntary, not mandatory.

"We are adults and we can judge. We can keep the distance," she said."But to force everyone to [wear masks], I don't think it's fair."

1 person enters ICU

In total, 2,224 cases have been confirmed in the city since the start of the pandemic. Of those, 1,863 people or roughly 84 per cent of all cases are considered recovered.

No deaths were reported Sunday, making it more thanthree weeks since health officials have reported a death in Ottawa.

Five people remain hospitalized with the virus, and one person is inintensive care.

Across the river in western Quebec, there have been 632 confirmed cases of the virus and 33 deaths reported as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Ontario's Ministry of Healthreported 164 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday morning. The province also reported three more COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the death toll in Ontario to 2,751.