Ottawa’s COVID-19 numbers are on a “good trajectory,” the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues and new rules for short-term rentals in the capital.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at five stories to watch in Ottawa this week.
COVID-19 IN OTTAWA
All eyes will be on the COVID-19 numbers in Ottawa this week, after some positive signs over the previous seven days.
Ottawa’s weekly COVID-19 incidence rate decreased from 217.8 cases per 100,000 on April 18 to 156.4 cases per 100,000 on April 24.
“We’ve seen cases starting to go down too. Sort of knock on wood, cross your fingers,” said Dr. Doug Manuel, senior scientist with the Ottawa Hospital on Newstalk 580 CFRA on Sunday.
“Right now it looks like a good trajectory. For the hospital though, it’s a slow climb down, people will still come in because there’s lags and as well, people are staying in hospital longer during COVID.”
As of Sunday, there were 104 people in Ottawa-area hospitals with COVID-19 related illnesses, including 25 people in the ICU.
Since the first case of COVID-19 in Ottawa on March 11, 2020, there have been 23,313 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, including 490 deaths.
COVID-19 VACCINES
The City of Ottawa is promising more updates “in the coming days” on when new COVID-19 vaccine appointments will be available at community vaccination clinics and pop-up clinics.
All appointments are temporarily booked as the city says it deals with a “limited supply” of COVID-19 vaccines.
According to the federal government, Ontario will receive 235,700 doses of the Moderna vaccine this week and 396,630 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Ontario is scheduled to receive 786,240 doses of the Pfizer vaccine the week of May 3.
As of Friday, 30 per cent of Ottawa residents over the age of 16 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Starting Monday, pregnant individuals will be able to pre-register for a vaccine appointment through Ottawa Public Health.
