There's 1 exception to Ottawa's low and stable COVID snapshot

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 numbers are mostlylow and stable.
• Its average test positivity continues to rise.
• Fivemore local COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

Ottawa's pandemic trends are mostly 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 May22,the average coronavirus wastewater levelhas been low and stable for about twoweeks.

This averagegenerally stayed within the same range for a year, so this month has broken that trend.

it's currently at its lowest reading since February 2022.

Hospitals

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

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

The city's weekly average test positivity rate, which sitsaround 13 per cent, has been rising for a week based on about 80 tests a day. It's currently seen by OPH as moderate.

Ottawahas a stable six active COVID outbreaks, which OPH considers low.

The health unit reported36more COVID cases since Tuesday and three more COVIDdeaths, bringing its 2023 total to 76 people.

Vaccines

Eleven 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 levelremainsmoderatebased on a high averagetest positivity. Its other trends are seen as low.

Coronavirus wastewater averages areotherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.

Hospitalizations and deaths

Eastern Ontario communities outsideOttawa report about 10COVID-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: fourin its most recentweekly update, with two in intensive care.

Western Quebec has 23 hospital patients with COVID. None of them arein intensive care. The province reported that region's 478th COVID death in its weekly update.

HPE reported its 117th COVID death.

Vaccines

The Kingston area's health unit says 12per cent of its population age five and older have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months.

That number is also12 per cent in HPE, and it remains unavailable elsewhere.