Ward 5 still has fewest confirmed COVID-19 cases but growth appears
By Jake Davies - West Carleton Online
WEST CARLETON – Ward 5 continues to have the lowest rate of infection in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic, but numbers have grown.
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) released an updated city map of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population that includes data current as of July 20 at 2 p.m.
West Carleton-March continues to have the lowest rate of infection at 59 per 100,000 people. On May 21, the confirmed cases in Ward 5 was at 51 per 100,000.
That works out to roughly 15.4 cases in Ward 5 up from 13.4.
Of course, there could be many more unconfirmed cases in West Carleton and anywhere in the city. West Carleton Online interviewed Ken and Judy Borg of Kinburn on July 1 both of who were diagnosed with COVID-19, but at the time, did not qualify to be tested for the coronavirus.
Alta Vista continues to have the highest rate of COVID-19 infections in Ottawa, while new data shows a significant increase in the rate of infections in Gloucester-Southgate.
The OPH Snapshot of COVID-19 across Ottawa Wards Report shows COVID-19 infection rates in all 23 wards.
As of July 20, Alta Vista had 264 confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people, up from 207 cases per 100,000 people on July 6.
Rideau Rockcliffe is second, with 186 cases per 100,000 people, up from 172 cases per 100,000 people two weeks ago.
The report shows Gloucester-Southgate has 176 confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people, up from 104 cases per 100,000 people on July 6.
River Ward is fourth with 171 cases per 100,000 people, while Bay ward is fifth with 168 cases per 100,000 people.
On the other side, Osgoode has the second fewest cases with 71 per 100,000 people followed by Stittsville at 92 cases per 100,000 people.
“COVID-19 is present in every single community within Ottawa,” OPH said.
The health unit adds the data “cannot be used to identify COVID-19 hot spots in Ottawa. Areas with lower or higher rates are not more or less safe from COVID-19 transmission.”
The Snapshot of COVID-19 across Ottawa Wards Report shows where people with a confirmed case of COVID-19 live and not where the disease was contracted.
