Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reports that high levels of Influenza, RSV and Covid-19 activity — seen in the first week of January — have continued to persist.
Based on OPH’s Respiratory Dashboard, high levels of respiratory illness have continued into the second week of January.
Data from OPH shows high and increasing levels of Influenza since the first week of January, while Covid-19 levels have remained similar to the previous week (week 1).
OPH also reported moderate levels of other respiratory viruses — such as RSV — in the second week of January, with levels similar to previous week.
According to OPH, measurements are based on wastewater analysis, per cent positivity, new hospitalizations, and new outbreaks in healthcare institutions.
Measuring seasonal respiratory infections. Wastewater levels, per cent positivity, new respiratory hospitalizations and new respiratory outbreaks in healthcare institutions are all sitting above low levels. Photo by OPH.
Additional reporting found that there have been very high and increasing levels of Influenza and other respiratory illnesses in long-term care homes, retirements homes and public hospitals, wrote OPH in the Respiratory Dashboard (week 2).
OPH also identified Covid-19 levels as moderate and increasing since the first week of January.
Ottawa healthcare institutions are facing a high risk period for respiratory illness, they reported.
Ottawa Public Health is urging the public to stay up-to-date on vaccines and use layers of protection — such as masks — to help prevent the spread of these viruses.