Key COVID-19 numbers in the Ottawa area today

• Ottawa is reporting 45 newCOVID-19 cases and two more deaths.
• The B117 variant has been found in an Ottawa long-term care outbreak.
• Officials in the Outaouais report 29 new COVID-19 cases.

Today's Ottawa update

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has confirmed another 45 cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches said Wednesdaymorning she believescoronavirus levels are low enoughto safely reopen schools in the capital.

Numbers to watch

0.79:The number of people infected by a single COVID-19 case, or R(t). Thespread of the coronavirusis considered under control if that figure is kept below one.

45.4:The weekly incidence rate, arolling seven-day total of new COVID-19 cases expressed per 100,000 residents.

49:The number of Ottawa residents with COVID-19 in an Ottawa hospital.

12:The number of thosepatients in anICU.

26: The number of active COVID-19 outbreaks in Ottawa, led by 16 in health-care settings. One week ago there were 23.

35:The number of cases among residents, staff and visitors linked to a COVID-19 outbreak at the city-runCentre d'accueil Champlainlong-term care home, according tothe city. Some people have tested positive for the B117 variant first identified in the U.K.

6,241:The number of COVID-19 cases since late December that are either confirmed orsuspected to involve a variant of concern.These variants have made up a significant portion of Ottawa's new COVID-19 cases since mid-March.

Across the region

Public health officials inthe Outaouaisare reporting 29 newCOVID-19 cases.

That region is back under Quebec's red zone rules,with plansto slowly relax restrictions over the next three months. The next step in that process comes Friday.

Most eastern Ontario health units are now regularly reporting fewer than 10 cases a day. TheRenfrew County and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark areas each reported just three cases on Thursday.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit reported 17 new cases Thursday.

Ontario's stay-at-home order ends June 2, and the provinceisaiming to lift morerestrictionsinmid-June.