RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:
While the region is coming out of a high-risk breathing season, Ottawa is sticking around.
The Ottawa Public Health (OPH) Weekly Respiratory Update paints a strong picture, with very high to low to moderate influenza trends of COVID-19 and RSV.
Experts recommend that people cough, wear masks, keep their hands and high-touch surfaces clean, stay home when sick, and get COVID and flu shots for themselves and the vulnerable.
OPH says the city’s fitness services remain at the highest risk for respiratory illnesses, as has been the case since late August. This will be the case until respiratory illnesses return to low levels.
Ottawa’s coronavirus-related wastewater had been solid for about 3 weeks as of March 4.
OPH stated that this is moderate.
The city’s average weekly positivity rate is solid, at 8 percent, which is low for OPH.
The number of new COVID-related hospitalizations in the city is considered low by OPH (19).
The number of active COVID outbreaks has dropped to six, with several new outbreaks.
OPH’s monthly COVID vaccination update indicates that 23% of eligible citizens have received the latest vaccine since the rollout began in mid-September 2023, up 1% from last month.
This takes into account immunity to infection.
After about four years, OPH has discontinued its COVID-specific panel. Much of the information is now reflected in OPH’s respiratory updates. OPH stated that open COVID data will continue to be up-to-date and dashboard data has been archived.
The province still shares knowledge about COVID deaths, but there is a bigger backlog than with DPO reports. Ontario’s knowledge spans through Feb. 24 and is reflected in the latest OPH dashboard update last week.
The Kingston Region Health Unit says that, for the first time since October, we are no longer in the midst of an era of maximum threat to respiratory diseases. Specifically, the number of respiratory outbreaks has decreased, as have wastewater trends.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) Global Assessment assesses overall breathing as moderate and stable.
Hastings Prince Edward’s (HPE) weekly COVID hospital average drops to four. Flu activity is low.
Western Quebec has a solid number of 24 hospitalized patients who have been tested for COVID.
The data for Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL) dates back to February 25, when their trends are solid or decreasing. The next update from Renfrew County is expected Thursday.
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