Ottawa reports 199 more COVID-19 cases, nearing 1,000 known active cases

• Ottawa reports 199 cases of COVID-19 Thursday.
• OPH and Belleville area report their first COVID deaths of December.
• The Kingston area pushes further increases local pandemic records.
• The wider region has added 1,000 known active cases in less than a week.

Today's Ottawa update

Ottawa Public Health(OPH) reported 199new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the most in a daily update since April 30,and its first COVID-19deathof the month.

The city's 973 known active cases are the highest sinceMay 20.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Dr. Vera Etches, the city's medical officer of health, will provide an update at 2 p.m. ET as the province's science table says people need to see far fewer people in person to keep ICUs from being overwhelmed.

Numbers to watch

13: The number of confirmed Omicron variant cases among Ottawa residents, up from 12in Wednesday's report. Another 154cases are presumed to be Omicron but need final confirmation.

3: Residents age 12 and up who are either unvaccinated or who received their first dose less than two weeks ago are threetimes more likely to contract COVID-19 than arethose who are fully vaccinated, according to data up to Dec. 10.

26: The average number of hours it takes to receive a COVID-19 test result, up from the 22-hour average one week ago. Clinic hours have been extended at the McNabb Recreation Centre.

1.35:The number of people infected by a single COVID-19 case, or R(t). Therate of spread is considered under control when the number is below one.

78.1:The overall weekly incidence rate, arolling seven-day averageof new COVID-19 cases expressed per 100,000 residents. It has basically doubled in eight days.

48:The number of active COVID-19 outbreaks in Ottawa, four more than on Wednesday.

35:The number of those outbreaks in school and child-care settings, including 29 in elementary schools.

5:The number of Ottawa residents currently being treated for COVID-19 in an Ottawa hospital is stable. All current patients are 60or older.

0:The number of those Ottawa patients in an intensive care unit.

The Kingston area

426.3: The weekly incidence rate for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington(KFL&A) Public Health is one of the highest on record in Ontario, according to its medical officer of health.

• Kingston area going back to early autumn COVID-19 rules in latest bid to turn tide

1,186: Its known active case count has risen 10straight days, setting a new local record each time.

28:The number of KFL&Aresidents currently being treated for COVID-19 in a localhospital. Thirteen of them are in intensive care.

39:The number of active outbreaks in KFL&A, with 291active cases linked to them.

471: The number of confirmed and presumed Omicron cases as of Wednesday, according to its medical officer of health.

Across the region

Many local health authorities have warned about an increase inCOVID-19 spread straining theirhealth resources, with fears it will get worse as Omicron takes over.

There are now more than 3,000 known active COVID-19 cases in the wider region.

Quebec reported 71more COVID-19 cases in the OutaouaisThursday. The premier has called a 6 p.m. news conferencesaying he has an important pandemic update.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties reported 45 more cases and 73 cases that have recovered.

Hastings Prince Edward reported 33more cases, a record 257 active casesand its 17th COVID-19 death.

Health units for theBelleville, Kingston and Leeds,Grenville and Lanark areasareasking residents to avoid in-persongatherings, as are councils forAkwesasneandKitigan ZibiAnishinabeg.