COVID-19: One new death in twice-weekly OPH update; ‘Clearly COVID is far from over’

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COVID-19 in Ottawa

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(Reported on Tuesday, last updated on Friday)

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1: new deaths

1,008: total deaths

30: Ottawa resident hospitalized with active infection

2: In ICU due to active infection

89: Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals as of Sunday (including non-Ottawa residents), 50 hospitalized for COVID-19 (5 in ICU), for other reasons 39 (0 in ICU)

115: Number of new cases of COVID-19 (number of cases is considered underestimated due to limited testing to certain groups)

89,221: total cases

20: Ongoing outbreak in facility

11.7: Test positive rate (Sunday 7-day average)

Source: Ottawa Public Health

Current situation in Ottawa

The same day, the World Health Organization confirmed that COVID-19 remains a “public health emergency of international concern”. Ongoing public health problems in Ottawa in the near future.

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Before the budget proposal was submitted at the Health Board meeting on Monday, Health Medical Officer Dr. Vera Etches said Ottawa’s COVID-19 levels had dropped dramatically after earlier spikes in flu and RSV incidence. Nevertheless, it warned that it remained “worryingly elevated”.

She noted that the highly contagious Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is spreading rapidly across the state. The Ontario Public Health Department predicts that the variant nicknamed Kraken is on the rise, with her accounting for 36.8% of all cases in the province.

“Obviously, COVID isn’t over yet.”

For the fourth consecutive year, costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to represent a significant portion of Ottawa Public Health’s budget. His $128 million 2023 OPH budget includes $77 million in base funding, most of which goes to payroll and benefits, and $51 million to cover pandemic-related costs. will be used for his one-time COVID-19 fund to cover.

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Part of the public health budget is funded by both the state and the City of Ottawa, with the state contributing 70%. Other areas are either fully paid by the state or city or covered by a fee. The state will pay all pandemic-related costs.

The Health Commission plans to vote on the budget at its February meeting.

How to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (and flu) in Ottawa

Learn more about how to get a COVID-19 booster at Ottawa Public Health community clinicBook your COVID-19 vaccination appointment through Ontario’s online portal or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Center at 1-833-943-3900 or Participating pharmacies.

Influenza vaccination pharmacy and OPH Influenza vaccination clinic It serves children aged 6 months to 5 years and their families, as well as those without OHIP who were unable to obtain vaccines through pharmacies or health care providers.

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How to get tested and treated in Ottawa

Ontario announced Thursday that more people are eligible for PCR testing for COVID-19.

Anyone over the age of 18 and it has been at least 6 months since their last COVID-19 vaccination or infection, and anyone over the age of 18 who has not been vaccinated is eligible to be tested. Previously, only people under the age of 60 who were immunocompromised or at risk and who had fewer than three doses of vaccines were eligible to be tested. Additionally, everyone over the age of 60 is now eligible for PCR testing, up from the previous general cutoff of 70.

This change is intended to align with eligibility for paxlobid treatment of COVID-19.

Ottawa residents can find out who is eligible to be tested. How to book an examination and seek treatment At your local care clinic or assessment center on the health unit website.

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Families can also check out CHEO’s page on when to go to the emergency department. Alternative to ED.

Pharmacists can prescribe Paxlovid, an antiviral drug used to reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19, free of charge to eligible people, both in person and online.People can use his COVID-19 online in Ontario antiviral treatment screener See if you’re at high risk of getting sicker and if you might benefit from medication.

Where to get a COVID-19 rapid test

Last month, Ontario extended a program to provide free rapid antigen test kits for COVID-19 through the end of June 2023.

people can use postal code Find the locations of participating pharmacies and grocery stores.

– Using files from Elizabeth Payne of The Canadian Press