COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ottawa hold steady as Ontario prepares to lift restrictions

COVID-19 hospitalizations have remained steady in Ottawa as Ontario unveiled its plan to begin lifting restrictions on gatherings and non-essential businesses.

Two new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Thursday in Ottawa, bringing to 652 the number of deaths linked to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Ottawa Public Health reported 84 people in Ottawa hospitals with an active COVID-19 infection on Thursday, up from 83 on Wednesday. There are eight people in intensive care units with an active case of COVID-19.

Ottawa Public Health only reports hospitalizations among Ottawa residents with a hospital response for active COVID-19. To be considered an inpatient intervention, the hospitalization must involve treatment for an active COVID-19 infection or have an extended hospital stay due to active COVID-19. This also applies to people at risk of contracting COVID-19 while in hospital. Local hospitals have reported higher numbers of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Queensway Carleton Hospital says there are 63 patients at the hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 and there are 53 patients with COVID-19 at Montfort Hospital. There are 167 cases of COVID-19 involving patients at The Ottawa Hospital, while CHEO is reporting eight admissions for COVID-19.

Thusday, Ontario has announced a three-step plan to gradually lift restrictions related to COVID-19.

“We can be sure the worst is behind us as we seek to cautiously ease public health measures,” Premier Doug Ford said Thursday. “We are now in a position to cautiously and gradually relax public health measures.”

From January 31, restaurants, gyms and cinemas will be able to open at 50% capacity. Gathering limits will increase to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.

KEY STATISTICS ON COVID-19 IN OTTAWA

• COVID-19 cases per 100,000 (Jan 12-18): 240.6 (vs. 283.3)

• Ottawa positivity rate (Jan 12-18): 19.7% (vs. 21.5%)

• Reproduction number (average over seven days): 0.77 (instead of 0.62)

• Known active cases: 3,877 (-251)

Reproduction values ​​greater than 1 indicate that the virus is spreading and each case infects more than one contact. If it is less than 1, it means the propagation is slowing down.

The number of known active cases is the number of confirmed cases (based on testing) minus the number of resolved cases and deaths.

HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OTTAWA

There are 84 people in Ottawa hospitals Thursday with an active COVID-19 infection, up from 83 Wednesday.

There are eight people in intensive care, up from 10 on Wednesday.

Age categories of hospitalized persons:

• 0-9: 0

• 10-19:2

• 20-29: 2 (1 in intensive care)

• 30-39: 2

• 40-49: 6

• 50-59:5

• 60-69: 14 (2 in intensive care)

• 70-79: 23 (4 in intensive care)

• 80-89: 22 (1 in intensive care)

• 90+: 8

(Ottawa Public Health is now reporting people hospitalized with an “active” infection)

COVID-19 VACCINES IN OTTAWA

From Wednesday:

• Ottawa residents with 1 dose (5+): 903,745 (+600)

• Ottawa residents with 2 doses (5+): 837,010 (+788)

• Ottawa residents with 3 doses (12+): 480,872 (+6,206)

• Percentage of the population aged five and over having received at least one dose: 91%

• Share of population five years and older fully vaccinated: 84%

*Statistics for Ottawa residents who received one or two doses include anyone with an Ottawa postal code who was vaccinated anywhere in Ontario.

AROUND THE REGION

• Eastern Ontario Health Unit: 65 in hospital, 8 in intensive care*

• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health: 35 in hospital, 7 in intensive care

• Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health: 14 in hospital, 5 in intensive care

• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit: 20 in hospital, 7 in intensive care

• Renfrew County and District Health Unit: 14 in hospital, 0 in intensive care

• Outaouais (Gatineau and western Quebec): 135 hospitalized, 6 in intensive care

These numbers are based on the latest data from each respective health unit at the time of publication.

*EOHU says they are working on a new reporting system. Figures are as of January 17, 2022.

COVID-19 OUTBREAKS

Ottawa Public Health is currently reporting active outbreaks in the following locations:

• 24 long-term care homes

• 44 retirement homes

• 35 hospital units

• 56 other collective facilities (group homes, assisted living, etc.)

OPH has suspended reporting of community outbreaks in workplaces etc. from January 2.

A full list of locations with active outbreaks is available at OPH COVID-19 Dashboard.