Four new community COVID-19 outbreaks in Ottawa linked to workplaces as local positivity rate climbs

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is monitoring four new COVID-19 outbreaks in the community as it's seeing a higher percentage of residents testing positive for the virus.

The new outbreaks being reported on Wednesday, December 15, are linked to two retail workplaces and two recreation-related workplaces. Other ongoing community outbreaks are stemming from health, office and construction workplaces, as well as a religious organization and sports and recreation. 

Dr. Vera Etches issued a letter today, asking local employers to encourage their employees to work from home if possible.

OPH says there are also ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks at 29 local schools, four daycares and two healthcare institutions.

The health unit continues to investigate COVID-19 exposures linked to the Westin Ottawa, Xtreme Trampoline, and the Big Wreck concert at Bronson Centre on December 7. New potential exposures also happened at the Shenkman Arts Centre's Le Group Swing event on December 10, The National Arts Centre's Nutcracker Ballet on December 5, a screening of American Underdog at the Cineplex on Carling Avenue on December 8, and at Goodlife Fitness at Lansdowne.

OPH is confirming 116 new cases of COVID-19 in the city on Wednesday. There have been 700 new cases confirmed in the last seven days. The health unit says it's linked 378 cases to the Delta variant and 12 cases to Omicron over the last 30 days.

Residents being tested for COVID-19 in Ottawa are seeing positive results 4.5 per cent of the time. That's up from 3.8 per cent on Tuesday and what was 2.8 per cent a week ago.

The health unit knows of 845 active cases of COVID-19 in the community.

There are seven people in Ottawa hospitals with COVID-19. Local ICUs have been clear of COVID patients since last Friday.

No new COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday leaves the city's pandemic death toll at 618.

According to Ottawa's vaccination dashboard, 91 per cent of residents over the age of 12 have had at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and 89 per cent have now had both necessary to be considered immunized. The health unit says 88 per cent of residents over the age of five have had one shot against COVID-19 and 82 per cent have had two. More than 40 per cent of local kids between the ages of five and 11 have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

The rate of infection among Ottawa's unvaccinated vaccine-eligible population is three times higher than it is for the fully vaccinated population. The local rate of infection per 100,000 residents for those vaccinated against the virus is at 17.3, whereas the rate for those unvaccinated (or vaccinated with one dose under 14 days) is 52.8. The rate per 100,000 residents for those who are waiting for their second shot is 40.3.

Ontario is reporting 1,808 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths from the virus, Wednesday. There are 154 people in intensive care due to COVID-19 including 102 people on ventilators. 

There have been 33,204 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa (31,741 resolved) since March of 2020.