June 28 COVID-19 update: Ottawa numbers slowing, Province hits 30,000, Canada Day COVID activities

OTTAWA – Ottawa confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 Saturday (June 27), but no new deaths have been reported.

This brings Ottawa’s total number of cases since the pandemic started to 2,079 and 263 deaths as of Saturday afternoon. There are currently two people in hospital, one of which is in the intensive care unit.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) says there is about 4.6 contacts per infected cases. The age group experiencing the most cases are those between the ages of 50 and 59 — the least cases being reported among those birth and nine. Women continue to represent the majority of cases with 59 per cent — or 1,234 cases.

Healthcare workers make up slightly morethan 27 per cent of reported cases, which equals 567 people. Six outbreaks continue throughout the capital – five being in long-term care homes. So far, 50 outbreaks have been remedied. Currently, 46 cases are active in the capital.

OPH says people are continuing to social distance but there’s been a two per cent dip in people reporting they wash their hands regularly compared to last week. It takes an average of 16 hours to receive positive test results back, and 15 hours to receive negative test results.

The number of resolved COVID-19 cases in Ontario has surpassed the 30,000 mark.

According to numbers released by the Ontario government today (June 28), a total of 30,107 cases have been resolved — which is 175 additional cases since Saturday (June 27).

The province also reports less than 200 new cases of the virus — 178 were reported on Sunday (160 were reported Saturday and 111 were reported Friday, June 26).

Six deaths were also reported making the total number of deaths attributed to the virus in the province 2,658. The number of people currently in hospital is at 214 — 38 less than Saturday.

There are 51 people across the province reported in ICUs, 38 less than Saturday. Thirty-six patients are on a ventilator.

The government completed 28,633 tests as of Sunday, which is more than double than the previous report (13,492 were reportedly completed in Saturday’s numbers). In all, Ontario has conducted a total of 1,356,439 tests since the pandemic started.

Currently there are 29,592 cases under investigations.

Canadian Museum of Nature Canada Day events heading online

OTTAWA – The Museum of Nature will host a Canada Day celebration online Wednesday (July 1).

With may events virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ottawa’s Museum of Nature is no exception and are planning some activities Canadians can participate in through their website and social media platforms on Canada Day. 

Among the activities are learning about the maple leaf; making chalk paint and drawing the provincial and territorial flowers; making a sweet Canadian treat inspired by the cold; and taking an online museum tour of Canada’s national museum of natural history. 

For those who are able to drop by the museum at 240 McLeod St., take a selfie in front of the museum’s Queen’s Lantern — it will be lit in red on June 30 and July 1.

For more information on how to partake in the museum’s festivities, head over to nature.ca.

As for Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill or downtown, they have been cancelled but online entertainment is planned. 

Canadian Heritage’s social media sites will also have interactive activities and online content that include performance from artists across Canada. 

For more information, visit the website here. 

The city has some guidelines for those with a penchant for fireworks:

Consumer fireworks may only be discharged between Tuesday, June 30 and Thursday, July 2. Fireworks displays must be directly supervised by someone aged 18 or older and must take place on private property and with the property owner’s permission. Minimum safety distances, as indicated on the fireworks product, must be maintained from spectators, buildings, vegetation and vehicles. The display must not cause danger or nuisance to any person or property.

Sale of consumer fireworks is prohibited in the City of Ottawa, except on Canada Day and the seven business days immediately preceding it.

It is prohibited to sell or use firecrackers in the Province of Ontario at all times. Please review Ottawa’s Fireworks By-law for further details.

It is prohibited to discharge fireworks in city parks unless you have first obtained a permit.

National Gallery re-opening July 18

OTTAWA –The National Gallery of Canada will re-open for the first time since March on Saturday, July 18, with physical distancing measures applied.

The gallery announced Friday (June 26) it will be openings its doors again to the public starting Saturday, July 18.  Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

“Many of our visitors and members have indicated their eagerness to return to the Gallery, and we are just as excited to welcome them back,” National Gallery director Sasha Suda released in a statement. “We are currently implementing the physical distancing protocols and measures needed to ensure their experience is as safe and pleasant as possible.  We hope that our spaces, exhibitions and national collection will provide our visitors with comfort and inspiration in these very difficult times.”

The number of visitors in the building at on time will also be greatly reduced from pre-pandemic times. Observers are asked to enter through the group entrance and exit through the main entrance. A maximum of 15 people will be allowed in the boutique and seven in the cafeteria. The Tapas Bar and the Second Cup will be closed. Masks will also be available upon request and hand sanitizer will be available.