COVID-19: What you need to know on Friday, April 29 - Ottawa Citizen

File: A ventilator stands beside a bed at Belleville General Hospital.
File: A ventilator stands beside a bed at Belleville General Hospital. Photo by Luke Hendry /Postmedia

Ontario

(Reported Friday)

20: New deaths (19 recent, one in a data cleanup)

12,812: Total deaths

1,679: People in hospital and testing positive

209: In ICU

94: On ventilators (subset of previous number)

2,760: New confirmed cases (case numbers are considered underestimates with testing limited to certain groups)

1,255,338: Total cases

Ottawa

(Reported Friday)

0 : New deaths

777: Total deaths

40: Ottawa residents in hospital due to active infections

5: In ICU because of active infections

120: Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals as of Wednesday (includes non-Ottawa residents), 54 in hospital because COVID-19 (11 in ICU) and 66 for other reasons (three in ICU)

127: New COVID-19 cases (case numbers are considered underestimates with testing limited to certain groups)

71,382:Total cases

1,682: Active cases

70: Ongoing outbreaks in institutional settings

16.96: Per cent test positivity in the community (seven-day average as of Thursday)

Current public health measures

"The level of COVID in the community remains high," Ottawa Public Health said in a weekly "snapshot" on the virus in the capital Wednesday.

"This is not the time to let down our guard."

The health unit reported that the capital's wastewater virus detection levels are very high but decreasing while the per cent of lab tests coming back positive remains high. New hospitalizations are moderate and new outbreaks are moderate and decreasing.

OPH's advice: stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations with walk-in jabs available and stay home when sick.

COVID-19 testing and treatment are available for those at higher risk — but don't delay seeking care because treatment works best if started within five days of symptoms starting, OPH said.

If isolating, the five-day requirement only ends if symptoms have been improving for 24 hours and masks must be worn in public until after Day 10.

"Speaking of masks, just keep wearing them anyway," OPH said. "Wear a mask, especially indoors when physical distancing isn't possible.

"It's a simple (and) effective way to protect others."

A week ago, Ontario extended mask mandates in hospitals, long-term care homes, on transit and other high-risk settings until June 11.

How to get vaccinated

First — news many parents have been waiting for. The first COVID-19 vaccine for infants and very young children is now under review by Health Canada.

Moderna Canada president Patricia Gauthier said Friday the company sent an application to the Canadian vaccine regulator late Thursday for a vaccine to protect children between six months and five years old.

Meanwhile, fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines are available to Ontario residents aged 60 and over as well as First Nation, Inuit and Métis people and household members aged 18 and up.

Eligible people can book through the province's COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling 1-833-943-3900, through public health units that use their own booking systems and at participating pharmacies.

Ottawa Public Health community clinics and after-school clinics are open for drop-in shots for people eligible for a first dose, second dose or booster dose.

Where to get tested for COVID-19 in Ottawa

Anyone 70 and older, people 60 and older with fewer than three vaccine doses, and those 18 and older with fewer than three doses and at least one risk factor such as a chronic medical condition can now be tested and assessed for treatment in Ontario.

Molecular testing in the province has been prioritized for people at increased risk and those living or working in high-risk settings.

Ottawans can find out more about eligibility on the Ottawa Public Health website along with what to do if they have symptoms, test positive or are high-risk contacts.

Where to get rapid tests

Ontario is distributing free rapid antigen tests through pharmacy and grocery store locations across the province until at least July 31.

-with files from Elizabeth Payne

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