Feb. 9 COVID-19 update: New numbers trending down, Ottawa to begin in orange-restrict

OTTAWA – Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reporting another new death linked to COVID-19, but just 25 new cases across the capital as numbers continue to trend down.

Ottawa’s pandemic death toll is now up to 427. Most other key indicators of local COVID-19 spread are down today (Feb. 9) the OPH says.

The number of active cases in the community has dropped to 420, while hospitalizations are at 25, with five patients in intensive care. Across Ottawa’s healthcare system, ICU ventilator beds are 32 per cent occupied, regular ICU beds are 64 per cent occupied, and acute care beds are 94 per cent occupied.

The local COVID-19 positivity rate remains steady at 1.6 per cent.

There are still 19 outbreaks of COVID-19 at healthcare institutions, six of those are in shelters, according to OPH. Six childcare centres and/or schools remain in outbreak status as well. OPH is dealing with two community outbreaks stemming from workplaces.

Of the 34,225 COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to Ottawa, 31,554 have been administered to date.

OPH says there have been 13,733 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa since March of 2020 –12,886 of them are resolved.

Ontario is reporting 1,022 new cases of COVID-19 today, including one in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit and none in either the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark district or
Renfrew County.

Ottawa expected to re-open in orange-restrict Dr. Etches says

OTTAWA – Ottawa medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches is expecting the city to re-open in the province’s orange-restrict tier, when stay-at-home orders are lifted next week, she said during yesterday’s (Feb. 9) media availability.

She is also reiterating the importance in following protocols designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Etches is urging residents to continue hand washing, mask wearing and limiting contacts.

“If people are wearing masks and eye protections, if they’re close to others, and keeping the two-metres distance, that will prevent COVID transmission,” Etches explains.

The doctor adds following these protocols should also slow transmission of variants of the virus.

Etches is also encouraging residents to be aware of their COVID-19 “blind spots” – settings where mask use and the following of guidelines are less prevalent, including workplaces and while socializing in a household.

She says residents were able to keep the virus under control while under ‘orange-restrict’ in the fall, but feels there could be more work required if more transmissible variants show up in the community.