Ottawa's COVID levels remain high, Kingston area indicators on the rise

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 trendsare mostly high and stable.
• The Kingston area is alsoseen as being at high risk for respiratory illness.
• Sevenmore local COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

The city's pandemic numbers to watch are mostly high andstablein this week'sOttawa Public Health (OPH) update, like last week.

Because of this, OPH againsaysthe city's health-care institutions are 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 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)surged at the same timetopress health-care staff and thehealth systemto the pointthe Red Cross had tohelp.

Expertsrecommendthat people wear masks, keep their hands clean, gather in well-ventilated and less-crowded spaces,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 around the end of October, with earlier availability for people at higher risk of serious health problems.

Wastewater

Data from the research teamshows that as of Sept. 14,the average coronavirus wastewater levelhas been stable for about 10 daysafterslowly rising for nearly two months.

OPH considers this to be high.

Hospitals

The average number of Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for COVID-19 in the last week is slightly higherat37, with no patientsin an ICU.Its 18 new patients in the previous weekis low, according to OPH.

Aseparate countthatincludespatientswho testedpositive for COVIDafter being admitted for other reasons, wereadmitted for lingering COVIDcomplicationsand were transferred from other health units, is stable.

Tests, outbreaks,deaths and vaccines

The city's weekly average test positivity rate is about 19 per centand has stayed within that general range for the last month. OPH considers this to still be very high.

OPH says there are 27 activeCOVID outbreaks, also ahigh number and stablefromlast week.More than half are incare homes.

The health unit reported 272 more COVID cases in the last weekand threemoreCOVIDdeaths, all people age 70 and above.

The nextOPH vaccinationupdateis expected early next month.

Across the region

Spread

The Kingston area's health unitsays its COVID trends are rising atmoderate to very highlevels and it's now in ahigh-risk time for transmission.

Its average coronavirus wastewater reading is considered very high and rising.Other availablewastewater trends outside Ottawa are low inCornwall and Hawkesburyandstable inSmiths Falls and Brockville.

The average COVID-19 test positivity is a stable 13 per cent in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) and rises to 13per cent in the Kingston area.

Hospitalizations and deaths

The Kingston area's health unit says it has a highand rising22 active COVID patients in its hospitals, including anyone living in a different health unit.

Other eastern Ontario health unitsaroundOttawa Renfrew County, the EOHU and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark countiesreport 10combined residents in hospital forCOVIDtreatment, with onein intensive care.

Like Ottawa,Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Healthshares a weekly average:seven hospitalizations in itsmost recent update, which is stable. No patientis in intensive care.

Western Quebec hasa stable 16hospital patients with COVID.

Quebec reported three moreCOVID deaths in the Outaouais for a total of 492. HPE reported its 125th such death.

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