ten additional covid-19 deaths reported in ottawa in past week
a total of 1,185 ottawa residents have died of covid-19 since the pandemic began nearly four years ago.
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file photo: ottawa public health.
errol mcgihon
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postmedia
ten ottawa residents have died of covid-19 over the past week as the pandemic wave that began in the summer continues, fueled by new sub-variants and the busy season for social gatherings.
ottawa public health reported the 10 new deaths in its latest update on covid-19, published wednesday. a total of 1,185 ottawa residents have died of covid-19 since the pandemic began nearly four years ago.
the latest update also included 164 patients in hospitals with covid-19, including one in intensive care because of covid-19 and two other patients in intensive care for other reasons, but also infected with covid-19. there were also 35 ongoing outbreaks in institutional settings.
the high weekly death count comes as the medical officer of health warns that not enough vulnerable ottawa residents have received the latest covid-19 booster, which became available this fall. in an interview, dr. vera etches said she was particularly concerned about elderly residents at higher risk of severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, if they became infected. in some cases, she said, long-term care and retirement homes were struggling to vaccinate residents because of staffing challenges and outbreaks.
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fifty-eight per cent of ottawa residents over age 80 have been vaccinated within the past six months, meaning they have likely received the most recent booster for covid-19. fifty-five per cent of people between ages 70-79 have received a vaccine in the past six months, but just 39 per cent of people ages 60-69. twenty per cent of the general population has received a vaccine in the past six months.
according to public health ontario, jn.1, an omicron sub-variant, is spreading quickly in the province. it is believed to be more transmissible than variants that currently dominate, and is likely driving waves in various countries. it is not known if it is more immune-evasive than other variants, but officials say the updated booster is effective against it.
ottawa public health reports that covid-19 activity remains very high in the area, as does influenza activity, which is up from last week. rsv (respiratory syncytial virus) also remains high.
hospitals in ottawa say they are busy with viral illnesses, but are coping.
“the winter months are often challenging for hospitals, and this year is no different,” said rebecca abelson, spokesperson for the ottawa hospital.
queensway carleton hospital is busy, but has not yet seen the “more significant surge we are expecting later this month,” spokesperson natasha curley said. that hospital was at 103 per cent capacity on wednesday.
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montfort hospital was at 117 per cent capacity in its medical units, spokesperson martin sauvé said, but all services and procedures continued to run as usual. as of wednesday, there were 13 admitted patients at montfort with covid-19 and six with influenza.
(data pulled tuesday, dec. 12)
10: new deaths
1,185: total deaths
164: confirmed covid-19 patients in ottawa hospitals as of dec. 12 (includes non-ottawa residents); 71 admitted for covid-19 and 93 admitted for other reasons. one is in icu for covid-19 and two are in icu for other reasons.
275: new covid-19 cases in the previous seven days as of dec. 12. (case numbers are considered underestimates with testing limited to certain groups.)
96,108: total covid-19 cases in ottawa since pandemic began
35: ongoing outbreaks in institutional settings
19: new outbreaks in institutional settings
19.8: percentage of covid-19 tests that were positive in the most recent seven days
11.7: percentage of positive influenza tests in the most recent seven days
8.2: percentage of positive rsv (respiratory syncytial virus) tests in the most recent seven days
8: number of people in hospital with influenza
122: number of patients in hospital with rsv
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source: ottawa public health
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