Etches estimates 4,000 COVID-19 cases in capital

Lab tests show community spread, city’s medical officer of health says

Ottawa Public Health now has laboratory confirmation that COVID-19 is spreading within the community, medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches announced Sunday, estimating there could be as many as 4,000 cases in Ottawa right now — and 16,000 within a week.

“The doubling time we’re seeing is sometimes down to three days … and so, by this time next week, it could be 16,000. That’s the concerning picture, unless we do our part to really slow things down,” said Etches.

Of 27 confirmed or indeterminate COVID -19 cases in Ottawa as of Sunday afternoon, five had no known travel history, link to someone who travelled, or close contact with another COVID-19 patient.

“We are starting to see these community transmissions and cases among health-care workers,” said Etches.

“Because most cases are mild and undetected, I want to emphasize ... that everyone needs to treat all interactions with others as a potential source of transmission of COVID-19.”

A woman in her 20s became the newest confirmed case of the disease on Sunday caused by the novel coronavirus in Ottawa, pushing the total number of official COVID -19 diagnoses in the capital to 21.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit announced that a healthcare worker at The Ottawa Hospital tested positive for COVID -19.

The individual is in their 30s, from Prescott-Russell and doesn’t have any history of travel.

In a statement on its website, The Ottawa Hospital said that “all staff and patients who had direct interaction with this individual have been notified and advised of the public health measures they must take.”

Ontario recorded two more COVID-19 deaths as of Sunday evening — a women in her 70s in York region, and a Toronto man in his 70s who had travelled to the United Kingdom.

There have been five confirmed cases in the Outaouais, a Quebec health region that includes Gatineau.

As of Sunday evening, there were 1,401 confirmed cases of COVID -19 in Canada, including 20 deaths and 15 resolved cases (meaning the patient is no longer considered infectious).

Generally, statistics for official diagnoses should be viewed with caution.

Testing does not track down all cases in a community because the mild symptoms most people have aren’t distinguishable from common colds, and because public health can’t test large numbers of people.

Etches confirmed Sunday that some people in Ottawa are reporting four- to five-day waits for the results of COVID -19 testing. That’s due in part to the two-test process currently practised to confirm cases, Etches said, and consideration is being given to changing that approach. She also noted that a new lab in the region was to come online Monday, “so that will help take some pressure off.”

Meanwhile, she asked that everyone in Ottawa practise social distancing to the greatest extent possible — that means limiting close contact with others, even within the same household, when you can, Etches said.

“Really, a gathering of one is the best."

That also means avoiding non-essential excursions (excluding time outside when you can maintain at least a two-metre distance from other people), such as trips to hair salons, gyms, clothing stores, and car dealership, said Etches.

Anyone in need of community assistance should call 211.

Ottawa city council announced Sunday that its next council meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, will take place in the council chambers at city hall but attendance will be limited to members of council and essential city staff.

Media and the public can follow the proceedings online on the city’s YouTube channel.

Provincially, Health Minister Christine Elliott announced that some childcare centres will be exempt from last week’s mandatory closure order to support healthcare and other front-line workers.

A list of locations will be made available on the provincial coronavirus webpage, and all will be required to have a plan in place for potential exposure to the virus among children, staff or parents.

The province also announced that all full-time DriveTest Centres will be closed, starting Monday. In Quebec, Premier François Legault confirmed that all closures — including schools and non-essential child care centres — will extend until May 1.

Shopping malls, restaurant dining rooms and salons will now also have to shutter until that date.

Really, a gathering of one is the best. DR. VERa ETCHES