COVID-19 levels low in Ottawa as flu sticks around

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 numbersare low.
• Some flu trends are still seen as very high.
• That city's RSVlevels are more moderate.
• The Kingston areaagain has a high respiratory risk.
• Fourmore COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

Theweekly respiratoryupdate from Ottawa Public Health (OPH)showsCOVID-19 levels are lower than its two other closely tracked viruses.

COVID is low across the update's four categories, while RSV is more moderate.

Flu wastewater readings and hospitalizationsremain very high as this flu season stretches much later than the last one.

None of the trends OPH monitorsare rising, however.

OPHsaysthe city's health-care institutions remainat high risk from respiratory illnesses, as they've been since the end of August. Thiswill be the case untilrespiratory trends are low again.

Expertsrecommendpeople cover coughs,wear masks, keephands and often-touched surfaces clean, stay home when sick andkeepup with COVID and flu vaccinesto help protect themselves andvulnerable people.

COVID-19 in Ottawa

Ottawa'scoronavirus wastewater averagehad been dropping for about 10 daysas of March 18 to its lowest level since July.

The weekly average test positivity rate in the city is seven per cent. There are 14 new COVID-related hospitalizations in the city and theactive COVID outbreak count is six.

There have been twomore COVIDdeathsreported in the capital.OPH's next COVID vaccination updateis expected in early April.

Across the region

The Kingston areahealth unitis backina high-risk respiratory time. Its trends are mostly stable, but local wastewater readings and thenumber of outbreaks have edged upward.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) stillrates its overall respiratory risk as moderate and stable.

Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health's weekly COVIDhospital average remains atthree.Its flu activityislow.

Western Quebecdrops to 17hospital patients who have tested positive forCOVID. The province reports one more COVID death there.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark(LGL) datagoes up to March 10, when its trends were mostlydropping. A COVID death was added in its weekly update.

Renfrew County's next update is expected on Thursday.