Ottawa sets record with 242 new COVID-19 cases

• Ottawa is reporting a record 242 newCOVID-19 cases.
• Hospitalizations in the city continue to soar, including patients in ICU.
• Health authorities in the Outaouais are reporting 120 newcases and two more deaths.

Today's Ottawa update

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported a record 242 newCOVID-19caseson Friday, eclipsing the previous record of 240 set on April 3. Another 166 cases areconsidered resolved, and there hasbeen one more death.

Ottawa currently has 2,023 known active cases, just one of severalrecords set during this third wave,which featuresmore dangerous coronavirus variants.

City and health officials are speaking at 1 p.m. ET.

Ontario is undera provincewide stay-at-home orderuntil at least early May.

Numbers to watch

146:The weekly incidence rate, therolling seven-day total of new COVID-19 cases expressed per 100,000 residents, has risen well above the previous record of 98reached in January.

9.2%: The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive, a record high.

71:The number of Ottawa residents being treated in hospital forCOVID-19, a new record. Of those, 24 patients are in intensive care, also a new record.

1.05:The number of people infected by a single COVID-19 case, or R(t). Thespread of the coronavirusis considered under control if that figure is kept below one.It's been above one for more thanfour weeks.

1,623:The number of cases in Ottawa confirmed or suspected to involve coronavirus variants.

157,037:The number of Ottawa residents whohave received their first vaccine dose, an increase of more than 14,000 since Wednesday.

25,415:The number of Ottawa residents who have received both vaccine doses.

Across the region

Case totals in the Outaouaishave also been breaking recordsas restrictions there are tightened, particularly in the Gatineau area. On Thursday, Quebec's premier said that region's test positivity was nearing20 per cent.

The region'shealth authority reported 120 new cases and twomore deathsFriday.

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is reporting another 23 cases since its last update. The Eastern Ontario Health Unitalso logged 23 cases, with two deaths.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, whichis experiencing what its medical officer of health callsan "unprecedented" rise in cases, reported 18new ones. Renfrew County's health unit has 10 more cases Friday.

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health is again warning people age 18 to 29 about spread in that age group, saying they represent 70 per cent of active cases. They represent less than 20 per cent of its population.