Ottawa's COVID-19 situation wading on calm waters

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 numbers are low and mostly stable.
• A high average test positivity drives the EOHU into moderate risk territory.
• Sixmore local COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

Ottawa's pandemic trends are generally lowandstable, according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).

OPHhas not indicated any concerning trend since early this year, which is similar to the wider region outside of Ottawa.

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 May 16,the average coronavirus wastewater levelhas been low and stable for a week.

This averagegenerally stayed within the same range for a year, so this month has beenan outlier.

Hospitals

The number of Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for COVID-19 hasbeen slowly dropping. The number was seven in Friday's update, with no patients in ICU.

It hasn't been that low since June 2022.

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

Tests, outbreaks and deaths

Ottawahas a stable six active COVID outbreaks and an average test positivity rate around seven per cent, which has been stable for about 10 days.According to OPH, both numbers are considered low.

OPHreported72more COVID cases in the last week and the deaths of fourmore peoplewho had COVID.

Vaccines

Thirteen 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. Thisdoes not factor inimmunity from getting COVID.

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

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 levelrises to moderatebased on a high averagetest positivity. Its other trends are seen as low.

Coronavirus wastewater averages are low and stable inKingston.They'reotherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.

Hospitalizations and deaths

Eastern Ontario communities outsideOttawa report about 20COVID-19 hospitalizations, with twopatients in intensive care in Renfrew County.

That regional countdoesn'tincludeHastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health,whichshares a weekly average of itslocal hospitalization count: onein its most recentweekly update.

Western Quebec drops to 24 hospital patients with COVID. None of them arein intensive care.

The EOHU reported its 304th COVID death this week and the Belleville area reported its 116th.

Vaccines

The Kingston area's health unit says 13per cent of its population age five and older have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months.

That number drops to 13 per cent in HPE, and it remains unavailable elsewhere.