Public health reports 35 new COVID-19 deaths in the region
Ottawa Public Health reported 35 new COVID-19 deaths in Ottawa as of Sunday at 2 p.m., according to statistics released on Monday.
The deaths all occurred between April 24 and May 3. OPH said it’s transitioning to a new case management and reporting system, which caused a delay “in data entry and reporting related to COVID -19 cases and deaths.”
That brings the total number of dead in the city to 127.
The Ottawa Hospital announced Monday that four staff members have been infected in an outbreak declared last week in its Civic campus emergency department.
“All appropriate infection prevention and control precautions to protect those within the emergency department remain in place,” said a statement from the hospital.
“It is safe to come to the emergency department.”
New COVID-19 outbreaks were also reported Monday at the cityrun Centre D’Accueil Champlain long-term care home in Vanier, the Red Oak retirement home in Kanata, the Rockcliffe retirement home in New Edinburgh and the West End Villa retirement home near College Square. In retirement and long-term care homes, one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents or staff is considered an outbreak.
Meanwhile, Almonte Country Haven, a long-term care home in Mississippi Mills, has lost another resident to COVID -19, marking 25 COVID-19-related deaths.
On Monday, Premier Doug Ford said he saw cause for optimism.
Ontario is now “leading the country” in the volume of COVID-19 tests processed daily, he said.
“We’re now exceeding our target of 16,000 tests a day, with many of those tests aimed at protecting our long-term care residents and staff.”
Ontario is again observing a major drop in the number of new cases of COVID-19, with 370 confirmed cases reported Monday, compared with 434 new cases Sunday.
For four consecutive days, the number of new cases in the province has also declined.
“As the key trends head in the right direction, and the health system continues to be strengthened, it gives us confidence, it gives us the confidence that we can adapt. It gives us the confidence that we can reopen more places safely,” said the premier.
Ford suggested that if positive trends continue, the province may be able to loosen more restrictions, although he made no promises and said it was too early to talk about timelines.
“It gives us the confidence that we’re getting close to opening parks, that we’re getting close to opening retail for curbside pickup.”
Ford also hinted that it’s possible people may be able to visit their seasonal properties by the May long weekend, saying he is discussing the issue with mayors in cottage country.
“There is only so long you can hold back taxpayers from going to their cottages.”