Teen with COVID-19 in ICU is in stable condition

There are 15 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in the capital, which is markedly lower than last week, according to Thursday's report from Ottawa Public Health (OPH). But a new weekly report tells us more about some of the people infected including a teenager in intensive care for the first time.

At some point in the last 10 days, a teen was admitted to the intensive care unit at CHEO. In a statement to CBC on Thursday, the children's hospital said the patient "is stable and doing well."

During a news conference Thursday, Vera Etches, Ottawa's medical officer of health, said severe COVID-19 symptoms do remain rare in young people but she remains concerned about the rapid rise of cases overall in Ottawa.

In recent weeks, the city has seen a five-fold increase in the infection rate for people under 80, she said.

As of Thursday, the total of COVID-19 cases is Ottawa stands at 2,496: 248 active, 1,984 resolved and 264 people who have died.

The number of active cases is 21 fewer than Wednesday day because the number ofresolved cases has outpaced new ones.

Ten people are in hospital and four of them are in intensive care,unchanged from the previous day.

Ottawa has averaged21.4 new cases in its last five reports andmore than 22 cases in its last two weeks of reports. These reports mark when a case is confirmed and logged by OPH, not when it's diagnosed.

The city also has a confirmed COVID-19 case linked to a fourth daycare: a staff member at Grandir Ensemble's La Maisonelocation on Coventry Road.

Last COVID-19 death person in their 40s

In addition to its daily report, OPH released weekly data thathas more information about people who have died or been hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus, including the age range of ICU patients.

Between July 21 to 28, a teenagerwas among those admitted into an intensive care unit with COVID-19. Thereport noted the age range forICU patients was16 to 90; the previous week, the age of those who've been in intensive case ranged from 32 to 90.

The weekly reportalso indicated that the person who died of COVID-19 in the past week was in their 40s.

Under 100 new cases in Ontario

Ontario has logged its second straight day of fewer than 100 newly confirmed cases.

Ottawa accounts for 15 of the 89 new cases in Ontario's Thursday report, or about 17 per cent, roughly the same as Wednesday.

The capital is six to seven per cent of the province's population.