Ottawa's COVID-19 cases nearly triple in a week

Ottawa has now surpassed 400 confirmed COVID-19 cases, public health officials announced Tuesday.

There are 33 new confirmed cases in Ottawa, and two more patients have been hospitalized.

The city now sits at 403 cases, up from 144 one week ago. In its epidemiology update report, Ottawa Public Health tracks cases primarily based on when a person first experienced symptoms, rather than the date they tested positive, which is why its charts show different totals.

Among the latest are cases at the Ottawa Hospital's General campus and the Hpital Montfort.

On Tuesday Amazon confirmed one of its employees in Ottawa has tested positive. Jen Crowcroft, a spokesperson for Amazon, said the employee is recovering.

"We are encouraging those who are unwell to stay home and taking extreme measures to keep people safe in our buildings," she said.

Ottawa Public Health says 101 COVID-19 patients have recovered, meaning they've been cleared to stop self-isolating. That's nearly double the 56 reported yesterday.

Six people in Ottawa have died as a result of COVID-19.

Gatineau employee tests positive

The wider region of eastern Ontario and western Quebec has now topped 725 cases, with a total of 11 deaths. Most other health units in the region don't list how many people have recovered.

In Gatineau there are now 99 confirmed cases of COVID-19. On Tuesday the City of Gatineau announced one of its employees is among the sick. A source told Radio-Canada the employee is a member of Gatineau police.

Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin, Gatineau's mayor, held a teleconference Tuesday where he said the city is ready to help the health-care system in whatever way it can.

"We're well organized, we're ready to face anything that comes our way," he said. The mayor also urged residents to be patient during this tough situation.