Slight uptick in hospitalizations as COVID-19 rate of infection rises in Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health says nine people are in local hospitals with COVID-19, seven of whom are in intensive care.

Those numbers are up from seven patients with six in ICUs on Tuesday.

OPH says Wednesday, September 22, that the rate of infection among Ottawa's unvaccinated vaccine-eligible population is still 11 times higher than it is for the fully vaccinated population, but it is also simply rising, overall. The local rate of infection per 100,000 residents for those vaccinated against the virus is up to to 8.4, whereas the rate for those unvaccinated (or vaccinated with one dose under 14 days) is 94.9. The rate per 100,000 residents for those who are waiting for their second shot is up to 38.5. 

The health unit says 88 per cent of Ottawa residents over the age of 12 have at least one COVID-19 vaccine and 82 per cent have been fully immunized. 

There are three new institutional outbreaks on OPH's dashboard: at Residence St-Louis, Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital and Peter D. Clark long-term care. There continue to be outbreaks at eight Ottawa schools, three childcare centres and one group home. The health unit is also monitoring two community outbreaks linked to religious organizations. 

OPH is confirming another 59 new cases of COVID-19 in the community on Wednesday. There have been 440 new cases over the last seven days. Health officials say they know of 476 active cases of COVID-19 in the city.

OPH is reporting 227 Delta variant cases in the last 30 days.

Ontario reported 463 new cases of COVID-19 and seven more deaths linked to the virus on Wednesday. Health Minister Christine Elliott said 332 of those new cases were in people who are not fully vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.

No new COVID-19-related deaths are being reported on Wednesday. There have been 595 COVID-19-related deaths in Ottawa since the beginning of the pandemic, with two recently associated with the Delta variant.

Ottawa residents being tested for COVID-19 are seeing positive results 3.1 per cent of the time. 

There have been 29,443 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa (28,372 resolved) since March of 2020.