118: Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals as of Wednesday , 54 in hospital because COVID-19 and 64 for other reasons 19.1: Per cent test positivity in the community With the fall respiratory virus season now here, monitoring indicators show that “levels of COVID-19 in our community are still high,” Ottawa Public Health said in a weekly “snapshot.”Article content
Levels of the virus detected in wastewater were high and relatively unchanged from a week earlier, OPH said in Thursday’s update. The per cent of lab tests coming back positive was very high and increasing. New outbreaks in institutional settings were moderate and relatively unchanged from last week.
Amid the viral season, “we need to think about those added risks,” the health unit said. The now-familiar “layers of protection” against COVID-19 — wearing a mask, covering coughs and staying home when sick — also help protect against colds and the flu.