Ottawa Public Health reporting increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reporting an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations on Friday, July 15. 

In its latest COVID-19 update, which is now provided every Tuesday and Friday, the health unit is reporting 27 people in hospital with the virus. In its last update on Tuesday, July 12, OPH reported 24 people in hospital with COVID-19.

In its update today, the health unit is also reporting five people in intensive care units (ICUs) and three new deaths. Both numbers are increases from OPH's last update on Tuesday when no new deaths were reported and three people were in ICUs because of the virus. 

There are 444 new COVID-19 cases reported today, up from the 278 cases reported on Tuesday. 

Many adults across Ontario can book second booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines, which started on Thursday, July 14. 

Previously, fourth doses were only available to immunocompromised people, those aged 60 and older, and Indigenous people.

An expert in immunity is urging people across the province to get second boosters if they are eligible sooner rather than later. 

Dawn Bowdish, the Canada research chair in Aging and Immunity at McMaster University, told The Rob Snow Show with guest host David Smith on Friday, July 15 that it's been six months or more since most people have had their third shot, and protection against COVID-19 is wearing off. 

“Getting your fourth dose is an investment in keeping yourself healthy in the long-term and it's also a way of minimizing the number of infections we have and minimzing the number of disruptions to our healthcare system and workplaces,” she said. 

Listen to the full interview with Dawn Bowdish below: