As the weather begins to cool in Ottawa and schools settle into the new academic year, cases of respiratory illnesses are expected to rise.
COVID-19, the fly, whooping cough (pertussis) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are among the infections public health officials are keeping an eye on this fall.
OPH is also hearing about more cases than expected of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionellosis), a rare form of pneumonia.
While specific guidance has shifted over the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, OPH’s main messaging remains consistent: stay home if you’re sick.
Before symptoms appear
It’s important for everyone to ensure their families’ vaccinations are up to date.
Flu shots and an updated COVID-19 vaccine are expected to roll out in Ontario in October while a new provincial program for vaccinating infants and children against RSV is set to launch this fall too.
Public health officials have also noted that everyone should ensure they’ve received their adult dose of the whooping cough vaccine amid a recent rise in cases.
Until people can receive the new COVID-19 vaccine, they should use masks, physical distancing and hand-washing — which work for not only COVID-19 but for other respiratory viruses.
With symptoms or a postive COVID-19 test
COVID-19 can cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose and more. OPH has a full list of symptoms for public reference.
The Ontario Ministry of Education advises students, staff and visitors should be screened for symptoms each day before going to school. The Ministry’s self assessment tool is available online.
Adults and children alike should self-isolate if they have symptoms of COVID-19. They should remain home until their symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours.
If symptoms include vomiting or diarrhea, they should stay home for at least 48 hours after those symptoms resolve.
8:39COVID-19 expected to increase this back-to-school season
Health Canada is expected to approve updates to COVID-19 vaccines soon, but until then, epidemiologists say there are other ways we can keep ourselves safe.
If you or your child has a positive COVID-19 test but no symptoms, you don’t need to self-isolate unless symptoms occur.
However, OPH said those with symptoms or a positive test should mask up for 10 days from the date their symptoms began, or the date of their positive test, whichever is earlier.
OPH also recommends maintaining a physical distance from others, taking unmasked breaks away from colleagues, and avoiding spending time with those at highest risk of severe infection during that 10-day period.
Expected rise in cases could be less monitored this fall
Current wastewater testing in Ottawa shows the amount of COVID-19 in the region is high and increasing. Last year, cases increased in the fall and winter as people began to spend more time inside.
Funding for COVID-19 wastewater testing done out of the University of Ottawa runs out by the end of the month, after the province cut funding this summer to avoid duplication with Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) testing. Federal testing has not been confirmed for the region.
Robert Delatollla, a professor and wastewater researcher who relied on this funding to run his lab, said he is in talks with OPH and CHEO about acquiring continued funding.
OPH has other means of monitoring for COVID-19 cases and other viral infections, such as the the number of hospitalizations, outbreaks and percentage of tests that are positive. However, Delatolla said a gap in wastewater testing could be still be harmful to hospitals looking to prepare for outbreaks.
“Wastewater is viewed as the leading metric within those other metrics,” he said, noting that the data is used by Ottawa hospitals to plan for staffing amid outbreaks.