COVID-19 trends high and stable in and around Ottawa

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 numbersare generally stable.
• Its individual trends are moderate to very high.
• Local COVID andflu vaccine campaigns takesteps forward.
• Six more local COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

The city's COVID-19 numbers to watch are generallystable at levels ranging from moderate to very highin this week'sOttawa Public Health (OPH) updates.

Ithas a moderate amount of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity and a low level of flu.

Because of this, OPH againsaysthe city's health-care institutions remain at a high risk from respiratory illnesses,like they would be in December, January and February.

OPHis expecting the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season to be similar to its last, when COVID-19, flu and RSVsurged at the same timetopress health-care staff and thehealth systemto the pointthe Red Cross had tohelp.

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Expertsrecommendthat people cover coughs and sneezes,wear masks, keep their hands and often-touched surfaces clean, stay home when sick andkeepup to date with COVID and flu vaccinesto help protect themselves andvulnerable people.

Both COVID-19 and flu vaccines are expected to be available for the general public in Ottawa Oct. 30, withavailability now for people at higher risk of serious health problems.

It's a similar timeline in Renfrew County. In Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL) counties, participating pharmacies and clinics should start getting updated COVID and flu vaccines next week.

Other health unitshaven't shared specific timelines as of publishing time, though the Kingston area's unit says everyone age 65 and over is eligible(though appointments are full).

Quebec's COVID and flu vaccine campaign is now underwayfor the general public.

Wastewater

Data from the research teamshows that as of Oct. 5,the average coronavirus wastewater levelhas been generally rising for about three months, with growth getting more uneven this past month.

OPHconsiders this tobe very high again.

Hospitals

The average number of Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for COVID-19 in the last week is stable at 25, with no patientsin an ICU.

Aseparate countthatincludespatientswho testedpositive for COVIDafter being admitted for other reasons, wereadmitted for lingering COVIDcomplicationsand were transferred from other health units, rises back to where it was three weeks ago.

Its 29 new patients in the previous weekismoderate, according to OPH.

Tests, outbreaks,deaths and vaccines

The city's weekly average test positivity rate is about 15 per cent, which is stable. OPH says this is a high level.

OPH says there are a stable25 activeCOVID outbreaks,though there are a very high amount of new outbreaks.Most outbreaks are incare homes.

The health unit reported 187 more COVID cases in the last weekand three moreCOVIDdeaths,all people age 80 and above.

OPH's next monthly COVID vaccinationupdateis expected in early November.

Across the region

Spread

The Kingston area's health unitsays its COVID trends are stable atmoderate to very highlevels and it'sin ahigh-risk time for transmission. Other respiratory illness trends are generally low.

Its average coronavirus wastewater reading is considered moderate and dropping. Other availablewastewater trends outside Ottawa arestable inSmiths Falls,BrockvilleandHawkesburyand risinginCornwall.

The average COVID-19 test positivity raterises to 23 per cent inthe Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU),is a stable 14 per cent in Renfrew Countyand a moderate, stable 15 per cent in the Kingston area.

Hospitalizations and deaths

The Kingston area's health unit says it has a very high15 active COVID-19 patients in its hospitals, including anyone living in a different health unit. The province has reported that area's 122nd overall COVID death.

The number of hospitalizations in LGLis stable at seventhis week after a quick rise in last week's update. Renfrew County has a stable threeand the EOHU, a stable 15.

Two more EOHUresidents with COVID have died for a total of 313.

Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health, like Ottawa, gives a weekly COVID hospitalization average: 11 patients, which is stable.

Western Quebec has a stable 49 hospital patients with COVID.

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