OPH reporting high levels of respiratory illness in Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reports that high levels of Influenza, RSV and Covid-19 activity — seen in the first week of January — have continued to persist.

Based on OPH’s Respiratory Dashboard, high levels of respiratory illness have continued into the second week of January.

Data from OPH shows high and increasing levels of Influenza since the first week of January, while Covid-19 levels have remained similar to the previous week (week 1).

OPH also reported moderate levels of other respiratory viruses — such as RSV — in the second week of January, with levels similar to previous week.

According to Ottawa Public Health, seasonal respiratory pathogens — including Influenza and RSV — tend to circulate in highest numbers between November and April, or late fall to early spring.

Ottawa, similar to the rest of Ontario, is beginning to see a return to typical season patterns in the circulation of respiratory viruses, noted OPH.

But Covid-19 activity doesn’t follow a seasonal pattern and instead, peaks throughout the year and continues to overlap with seasonal viruses, explained Ottawa Public Health in an email to CityNews.

Respiratory illness measurements (see below) are based on wastewater analysis, per cent positivity, new hospitalizations, and new outbreaks in healthcare institutions.

Additional measures found that there have been very high and increasing levels of Influenza and other respiratory illnesses in long-term care, retirement homes and public hospitals, wrote OPH in the Respiratory Dashboard (week 2).

OPH also identified Covid-19 levels as moderate and increasing in long-term care, retirement homes and public hospitals, since the first week of January.

Ottawa healthcare institutions are now facing a high risk period for respiratory illness, OPH noted..

Ottawa Public Health is urging the public to stay up-to-date on vaccines and use layers of protection — such as masks — to help prevent the spread of these viruses.

“The best way to limit the spread of respiratory viruses is to keep your family up to date on their vaccines,” wrote OPH in an email to CityNews.

“Pharmacies are the main point of access for flu and COVID-19 vaccines, with many local pharmacies offering walk in services in addition to appointments,” they added.

Parents are encouraged to remind kids to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, to wash their hands, and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, explained OPH.

Ottawa Public Health is asking that children with symptoms of respiratory illness are kept at at home until their fever is gone and symptoms have been improving for 24 hours.