Mixed bag of COVID-19 trends with low levels of concern

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 trends are mixed at low to moderate levels.
• Eight more local COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

Ottawa's pandemic trends are trending in various directions at low to moderate levels, according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).

At the end of May the city's medical officer of health said the overall COVID-19 situation is better and more stable than before, but threats remain.

Expertsrecommendpeople wear masks indoors. Staying up to date with COVIDvaccinescan alsohelp protect vulnerable people. Other guidance can vary between Ontario and Quebec.

Wastewater

Data from the research teamshows, as of the most recent update June 5,the average coronavirus wastewater levelwas low and stable for about two-and-a-half weeks, then rose for about a week, before dropping again Monday.

As of the end of last week, before that one-day drop, OPH considered the average to be moderate.

Hospitals

The number of Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for COVID-19 is stable at seven,with no patients in ICU.

A separate count, which includespatientswho testedpositive for COVIDafter being admitted for other reasons, those admitted for lingering COVIDcomplications, and thosetransferred from other health units, remains stable.

Tests, outbreaks and deaths

The city's weekly average test positivity rate has dropped to around sixper centafter rising in late May. OPH says the current rate is low.

Ottawahas nineactive COVID outbreaks, which has been very slowly rising for a few weeks. OPH considers this to be moderate.

The health unit reported 47 more COVID cases in the last weekand fiveCOVIDdeaths. It has reported 81 of these deaths this year and 1,072 overall.

Vaccines

Ontario's vaccine recommendations changed in early Aprilto focus onhigher-risk people.

Nine 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.

Age groups seen as ahigher risk are also at 15 per cent or below.

Thisdoes not factor inimmunity from getting COVID.

As of the most recent weekly update, 85per cent of Ottawa residents had at least one COVIDvaccine dose, 82per cent had at least two, 56per cent at least three and 31 per cent at least four.

Across the region

Spread

TheEastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU)'sCOVID-19 risk levelwas lowin its last update on May 29.

Coronavirus wastewater averages areotherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.

The average COVID-19 test positivity was a stable six per cent in Renfrew County's weekly update and dropped to about three per cent in the Kingston area.

Hospitalizations and deaths

Eastern Ontario communities outsideOttawa report about 20COVID-19 hospitalizations, with two patients in intensive care.

That regional countdoesn'tincludeHastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health,whichshares a weekly average of itslocal hospitalization count: none in its most recentweekly update.

Western Quebec has 21 hospital patients with COVID. None of them arein intensive care.

HPE reported two more COVID deaths in its weekly update, for 23 this year and 121 overall. The province reported the 480th total COVID death in western Quebec.

Vaccines

The Kingston area's health unit says 11per cent of its population age five and older have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months.

That number is 10per cent in HPE, and it remains unavailable elsewhere.