COVID levels currently low in Ottawa

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 numbers are mostly stable.
• Its trends are seen as low.
• Nomore local people with COVID have died.

The latest

Ottawa's pandemic trends are generally stableat low levels, according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).COVID indicators have usuallybeen seen as moderate to high in 2023, reaching very high levels more often than low ones.

OPHhas not indicated any concerning trend recently, which is similar to the wider region outside of Ottawa.

Expertsrecommendpeople wear masks indoorsand, in Ontario, in the daysafter having COVID symptoms. Staying home when sickandstaying up to date with COVIDvaccinescan alsohelp protect vulnerable people.

Wastewater

Data from the research teamshows, as of the most recent update May 2,the average coronavirus wastewater levelhas been low and stable for five days.

This average has generally stayed within the same range for a year, so thisis an outlier.

Hospitals

The number of Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for COVID-19 hasbeen dropping for a few weeks. The number was ninein Friday's update, including two patients in ICU.

That's the first time in nearly a year it's been in the single digits.

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. According to OPH, that numberis considered low.

The city'sCOVID-19 test positivity ratedropped from 12 to eight per cent in the last week of April, whichOPH also considerslow. It did rise for two daysto 11 per cent as of May 3.

OPHreported33 more COVID cases since Tuesday and nomore COVID deaths.

Vaccines

Seventeen 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 levelremains lowbased on trends such as wastewater and test positivity.

Coronavirus wastewater averages are low and stable in Kingston.They'reotherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.

Hospitalizations and deaths

Eastern Ontario communities outsideOttawa report about 25COVID-19 hospitalizations, with just onepatientin intensive care in the Kingston area.

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

Western Quebec has a stable34 hospital patients with COVID. None of them arein intensive care.

Vaccines

The Kingston area's health unit says 14per cent of its population age five and up have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months.

That number drops to 16 per cent in HPE, and it remains unavailable elsewhere.