Published Feb 28, 2023 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 3 minute read
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Ottawa
(Reported Tuesday, last update Friday)
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1: New death
1,020: Total deaths
21: Ottawa residents in hospital due to active infections
2: In ICU because of active infections
77: Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals as of Sunday (includes non-Ottawa residents); 38 in hospital because of COVID-19 (5 in ICU) and 39 for other reasons (1 in ICU)
87: New COVID-19 cases (case numbers are considered underestimates with testing limited to certain groups)
90,061: Total cases
28: Ongoing outbreaks in institutional settings
10.52: Per cent test positivity (seven-day average as of Sunday)
Source: Ottawa Public Health
The current situation in Ottawa
With about a month until public service return-to-office mandates are to be implemented, a number of departments within the federal government are updating their COVID guidelines, some of them dropping requirements to wear masks and practise physical distancing.
Early in February, recommendations provided for public service workers by the Public Service Occupational Health Program (PHOHP) administered by Health Canada — which offers occupational health medical advice, guidance and services to various federal departments — were updated.
Previously revised on May 12, they had been amended to remove distancing requirements, reduce wait times for people physically going to work after being infected with COVID (from seven to five days), and remove mask requirements except in certain higher-risk workplaces.
Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for Health Canada, said the health program “continues to emphasize that combinations of preventive practices, including staying home when sick, wearing masks, physical distancing, vaccination, rapid testing, ventilation, cleaning, and hygiene, are more effective than using a single measure on its own.”
In Ottawa Public Health’s latest update to its respiratory virus dashboard, COVID-19 and influenza activity were similar Feb. 12-18 to the previous week based on wastewater surveillance, the per cent of lab tests coming back positive and new outbreaks in health-care institutions. Other respiratory viruses activity was lower.
“Especially during these winter months, it’s important to continue using your layers of protection like wearing a well-fitting mask when in indoor and/or crowded public places and staying home when sick,” OPH said on social media Sunday.
How to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (and flu) in Ottawa
Find out more about getting COVID-19 vaccinations at Ottawa Public Health’s community clinics and neighbourhood health and wellness hubs. Book COVID-19 vaccination appointments through Ontario’s online portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, or make appointments at participating pharmacies.
Flu shots are available at pharmacies, and OPH flu shot clinics serve children aged six months to five years and their household members and people without OHIP who couldn’t get the vaccine through pharmacies or health-care providers.
How to get tested and treated in Ottawa
Pharmacists can dispense Paxlovid, an antiviral drug used to reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19 to eligible people at no cost, both in person and virtually. People can use Ontario’s COVID-19 online antiviral treatment screener to see if they’re at higher risk of severe illness and might benefit from the medication.
Ottawa residents can find out who’s currently eligible for testing and how to book tests and seek treatment at local care clinics or assessment centres on the health unit’s website.
Families can also check out CHEO’s page on when to go to the emergency department and alternatives to the ED.
Where to get COVID-19 rapid tests
Ontario has extended a program providing free rapid antigen test kits for COVID-19 to the end of June.
People can use their postal code to find participating pharmacy and grocery store locations.
With files from Catherine Morrison
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