Ottawa could be in ‘red’ COVID-19 tier by next week: Dr. Etches

Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health is again calling for residents to limit their social contacts as she's seeing signs that COVID-19 rates are no longer declining in the community, and that things are starting to tip the other way.

“If we [limit social contacts] now, we won't see [infection numbers] go up as far,” explains Dr. Vera Etches. “But unfortunately, we're still looking at a rise, most likely.”

The doctor says, at a city council meeting, Wednesday, February 24, she thinks Ottawa could fall into the 'red-control' tier of Ontario's COVID-19 response framework as early as next week, because of how residents acted two weeks ago.

“Sometimes just that very message, like, 'we're going to come out of lockdown,' gives the message, 'it's okay [to socialize a bit more],” says Dr. Etches. “And people gather just a little bit more in a more relaxed way, [with] a little bit less attention to distance, a little less masking, more connection, and that, on its own, we've seen it every time there's been an announcement that things are going to open again or go back, it's a little bit like it sends that signal… that our guard just doesn't stay up.”

Dr. Etches says the decisions residents make today will affect what the community sees in two weeks, in terms of COVID-19 rates. 

“We want to stay out of lockdown,” she adds. “And we can.”