Ottawa sets record with 387 more COVID-19 cases even with testing limitations

• Ottawa reports a record 387cases of COVID-19 Wednesday.
• Other key COVIDindicators are nearing record levels.
• Cityhospitalizations remain stable but one child in hospital with COVID.
• Case numbers may be affected by testing demands and delays.

Today's Ottawa update

Ottawa Public Health(OPH) reported 387 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, a new record for a daily update before all possible investigation and contact tracing is done to settle on a final count.

OPH reported a record high one-day case count of 405on April 17, but that was after it had completed all investigation and contact tracing. It's likely Wednesday's final count will surpass that record.

The city didn't report any new deaths.

Ottawahas 2,435 known active cases. One week ago it knew of 845. That count and some of the others below are at levels that near highs set during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2021.

Case numbers continue to rise even asOPHcan't keep up with testing demands, which delays or drags down its confirmed case count. The same is true elsewhere.

Ottawa's medical officer of health and mayor are among officials expected to speak at a news conference at 3 p.m. ET.

Numbers to watch

99: The number of confirmed Omicron variant cases among Ottawa residents, just about doubling Tuesday's count. Another 560 cases are presumed to beOmicron. Wastewater researchers say it looks like Omicron has taken over.

36: The average number of hours it takes to receive a COVID-19 test result, more than the average of 27 hoursone week ago.

10.5%:The rate of COVID-19 tests coming back positive rises significantly from Monday's 8.7 per cent.It's near the pandemic record of 11.7 per cent from April 2021.

1.44:The number of people infected by a single COVID-19 case, or R(t). Therate of spread is considered under control when the number is below one.

192.7:The overall weekly incidence rate, arolling seven-day averageof new COVID-19 cases expressed per 100,000 residents. Thehighest rate on record is 222.4 on April 17, 2021.

52:The number of active COVID-19 outbreaks in Ottawa, the same ason Tuesday. Thirty-four are in child-care settings.

6:The number of Ottawa residents currently being treated for COVID-19 in an Ottawa hospital is stable. That now includes a child younger than age 10.

0:The number of those Ottawa patients in an intensive care unit.

887,547:The number ofOttawa residents born in 2016 or earlierwith at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, an adjustment down from Monday's count as it changes tomore recent population data. That's 89per cent of the eligible population.

818,028:The number ofOttawa residents born in 2016 or earlier with at least two doses. That's 82per cent of the eligible population.

193,131:The number of Ottawa residents with a third dose, about 36,000 more than Monday.

45,310:The number of children in Ottawa born between 2010 and 2016 who have received their first dose of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, representing 58per cent of the population within that age group.

The Kingston area

459.3:The weekly incidence rate for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington(KFL&A) Public Health drops. It had beenthe highest rate of COVID-19 caseson record for any Canadian health unit during the pandemic.

1,539: The number of active cases in the region, down slightly from Monday's record. KFL&A also tests wastewater.

25:The number of KFL&Aresidents currently being treated for COVID-19 in a localhospital.Thirteenof them are in intensive care.

51:The record number of active outbreaks in KFL&A. The259active cases linked to them are fewer thanThursday's peak.

Across the region

Quebec reported 185more COVID-19 cases in the OutaouaisWednesday. Local health authority CISSSO says it's on pace for record case counts and people need to limit their contacts.

Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) reported 100 more casesand Leeds, Grenville and Lanark(LGL) counties reported 50 more.

According to the Ontario science table's count, KFL&A, Ottawa, HPE and LGLall rank among the eight highestper capita case rates in the province.

Renfrew County reported five more cases. It has one of the lowest per capita case ratesin Ontario.

The wider region haspassed 5,800 known active cases. It had about 1,000 total on Dec. 1.