Ottawa's high-risk respiratory streak ends

Ottawa has dropped out of high-risk territory from COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses for the first time since the end of August.

Theweekly respiratoryupdate from Ottawa Public Health (OPH)credits a lower number of respiratory hospitalizations and outbreaks.

COVID-19and RSVtrends are seen as low, while flu wastewater readings and hospitalizations remain very highas this flu season stretches into spring.

The city could return to high-risk territory in the coming weeks: a similar analysisin the Kingston areahas been waveringback and forth between high- and lower-risk.

Health officials recommendations includepeople cover coughs,wear masks, keephandsclean, stay home when sick andkeepup with COVID and flu vaccinesto help protect themselves andvulnerable people.

COVID-19 in Ottawa

Ottawa's recentcoronavirus wastewater averageis stable.

The weekly average test positivity rate in the city is around eightper cent.There are 10 new COVID-related hospitalizations in the city and theactive COVID outbreak count is eight.

There havebeen twomore COVIDdeaths reported in the capital.

OPH's monthly COVID vaccination updatesays 23 per cent of eligible residents have had a dose in the last six months, the same percentage as last month.

Across the region

Inwestern Quebec, a stable17hospital patients have tested positive forCOVID.

The Kingston areahealth unitis back inhigh-risk respiratory territory because of a rise in its average flu test positivity.

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

Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health's weekly COVID hospital average is two patients.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark(LGL) datagoes up to March 24, when mosttrends were dropping but COVID wastewater levels were rising.

Renfrew County's next update is expected Thursday.