1st COVID-19 update of spring sees falling indicators

Recent developments:

• Some of Ottawa's COVID-19 indicators are starting to drop after reaching levels last seen in January.
• One more personwith COVIDhasdied in Ottawa.

The latest

After weeks of stability, some of Ottawa's COVID-19 trends hadrisen to levels last seen in January, but they are beginning to drop again.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) saysCOVID-19 indicators are generally stableat moderate to high levels, which has remained consistentfor most of 2023.

Expertsrecommendpeople wear masks indoorsand, in Ontario, in the daysafter having COVID symptoms. Staying home when sickandstaying up to date with COVIDvaccinescan alsohelp protect vulnerable people.

Non-COVID respiratoryvirus levels are generally low and/or seasonal.

Wastewater

Data from the research teamshows the average coronavirus wastewater level is stable after a slow drop to start the month.

The most recent data is from March 16. OPH considers this level to be high.

Hospitals

The number of patients with COVID-19 in local hospitals drops slightlyto 24 from 26, which is similar to numbers seen most of the second half of2022 and start of 2023.

Three patients are in intensive care.

A separate countthat includespatientswho testedpositive for COVIDafter being admitted for other reasons, those admitted for lingering COVIDcomplications, and thosetransferred from other health units is similar to January numbers, but down slightly from last week.

Tests, outbreaks and deaths

Ottawa has 23active COVID outbreaks, which increased this week afterdropping earlier this month. The number is considered high by OPH.

The city'sCOVID-19 test positivity rate has remainedbetween 11and 14per cent since mid February, which OPH calls moderate.

OPH has reported 122more COVID cases since Fridayand thedeathof one personwith COVID.

Vaccines

Twenty-eightper cent of Ottawans age five and older have had a COVID-19 vaccine dose within the last six months, as is generally recommended,with older age groups having higher rates.

That translates to about 750,000 people in that age range without the recommended vaccine protection.It does not factor inimmunity from getting COVID.

As of the most recent weekly update, 85per cent of Ottawa residents had at least one COVIDvaccine dose, 82per cent had at least two, 56per cent at least three and 31 per cent at least four.

Across the region

Spread

Coronavirus wastewater averages are stablein the Kingstonarea.They'reotherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.

TheEastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU)'sCOVID risk levelremains moderate.

Hospitalizations and deaths

Eastern Ontario communities outsideOttawa report about 10COVID-19 hospitalizations, with fivepatients in intensive care.

That regional countdoesn'tincludeHastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health,which has a different counting method. Its local hospitalization count is stable.

Western Quebec has 59COVID hospital patients, its lowest count since July 2022. Twoof them arein intensive care.

Vaccines

The Kingston area's health unit says 28 per cent of its population age five and up have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months. It's25per cent in HPE and unavailable elsewhere.

Across eastern Ontario, between 79 and90 per cent of residents age five and up have received at least two COVID-19 vaccine doses, and between 52 and65 per cent of those residentshave hadat leastthree, according to the province.