May 3 COVID-19 update: City, province’s weekend numbers, third PSW death in three weeks, Mayor’s Canada Day event cancelled

OTTAWA – OPH is reporting two more people in Ottawa who have died of COVID-19 and 48 additional positive cases of the virus in the city as of Saturday, May 2.

That brings the city’s total numbers of confirmed positive cases to 1,420 and the total number of deaths to 78.

OPH confirmed cases are those with a confirmed COVID-19 lab result as for the Ministry of Health public management of cases and contacts COVID-19 in Ontario.

According to OPH, exposure may have happened up to 14 days before the onset of symptoms.

There are also 23 ongoing outbreaks in institutions. To see the full list current institutional COVID-19 outbreaks visit the city of Ottawa website here.

In Ontario there are a total number of 17,553 positive COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, May 3. The number of resolved cases is at 12,005, the Ontario government confirms. There are 434 more positive cases today – a 2.5 per cent hike since the last report.

There is also a total of 1,216 deaths in the province. That is 40 more since Saturday’s report, or a 3.4 per cent increase.

According to the Government of Ontario as of Sunday morning, 1,010 people have been hospitalized, with 232 in the ICU and 174 of which are on a ventilator in the ICU.

Third personal support worker dies of COVID-19 in last three weeks

ONTARIO – A union representing health-care workers in Ontario says a third personal support worker has died in as many weeks.

SEIU Healthcare, which represents more than 60,000 front-line healthcare workers in Ontario, said the worker served at the Downsview Long Term Care facility in Toronto.

The union says workers have been asking for more personal protective equipment, which is currently being rationed.

New Democrat leader Andrea Horwath expressed her condolences to the worker’s family in a press release, adding that at least 70 residents and staff at the facility have been infected with the virus.

Horwath says the province has to step up to provide enough PPE for the workers there.

Premier Doug Ford has said the province is fighting two separate battles against COVID-19 in the province: one in long-term care homes and one in the public domain.

West Carleton Online spoke to Kinburn-based personal support worker Patrick Garbutt about the issue on March 30 and April 16 when he first identified the issue of safety regarding personal support workers and their clients as well as the lack of PPEs.

Mayor’s Canada Day event cancelled

OTTAWA – The City of Ottawa has cancelled Mayor Jim Watson’s annual seniors Canada Day event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual event is usually held on July 1 in the Aberdeen Pavilion Lansdowne Park.

“The health and safety of all residents is of paramount importance,” city staff released in a statement.