RSV adds to high-risk time for respiratory illnesses

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 numbersare generallystable.
• Individual trends are moderate to very high.
• It now has a moderate amount of RSVactivity.
• Quebec's vaccine campaign picks back up next week.
• Sevenmore local COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

The city's COVID-19 numbers to watch are generally stable and highin this week'sOttawa Public Health (OPH) updates. It now has a moderate amount of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity as well.

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.

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. 25,the average coronavirus wastewater levelhas been generally rising for two-and-a-half months, with recent growth being more irregular.

OPH now considers this to bevery high, up from high last week.

Hospitals

The average number of Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for COVID-19 in the last week is stable at36, 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, is stable.

Its 34 new patients in the previous weekis up to moderate, according to OPH.

Tests, outbreaks,deaths and vaccines

The city's weekly average test positivity rate is about 14 per cent, its lowest reading in a month. OPH says this means a drop from very high to high.

OPH says there are 24 activeCOVID outbreaks, a slight dropand down to a moderate level.More than half are incare homes.

The health unit reported 167more COVID cases in the last weekand threemoreCOVIDdeaths, all people age 70 and above.

The nextOPH vaccinationupdateis expected next week.

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.

Its average coronavirus wastewater reading is considered moderate and dropping.Other availablewastewater trends outside Ottawa are at least a week old:risinginHawkesburyand Brockvilleandstable inCornwallandSmiths Falls.

The average COVID-19 test positivity rises to 16 per cent in Renfrew County,is a stable 15 per cent in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) and 13per cent in the Kingston area.

Hospitalizations and deaths

The Kingston area's health unit says it has a very highand rising30 active COVID patients in its hospitals, including anyone living in a different health unit.

The EOHU'shospitalizations go from seven last Tuesday to 15 this Tuesday.

Other eastern Ontario health unitsaroundOttawa Renfrew County and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark countiesreport sixcombined residents in hospital forCOVIDtreatment.

Western Quebec jumps from 16 to 27hospital patients with COVID and reports three more COVID deaths for a total of 495.

The EOHU reported its 311th total COVID death.

Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health's COVID updates are not happening during aCUPEstrike.

• Get the news you need without restrictions. Download ourfree CBC News App.