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Tag: Ottawa Public Health

Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Ottawa’s wastewater surveillance program extended for another year

Published October 4, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Elizabeth Payne

Two months after the Ontario government pulled the plug on wastewater surveillance, Ottawa health and research institutions have teamed up to extend the program in the city for a least another year.

Calling it an innovative solution that allowed for better monitoring of COVID-19 in the community, CHEO, the CHEO Research Institute, the University of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health announced an extension of wastewater surveillance on Friday.

In addition to monitoring COVID-19 levels in wastewater, the program monitors levels of influenza, RSV and mpox in Ottawa. The program has been extended until September 2025.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

uOttawa, CHEO and OPH extend monitoring of viruses in wastewater to 2025

Published October 4, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Ted Raymond

Our research group is truly grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received from the community over the past few months through emails, letters, and phone calls advocating for the continuation of our wastewater monitoring system.

We’ve gained invaluable insights into how this information is essential for community members facing health challenges, and we are thrilled to continue providing this vital service. A heartfelt thank you to OPH, CHEO, and CHEO-RI for their unwavering support.

— Dr. Robert Delatolla
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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

High rates of COVID are causing outbreaks, rising hospitalizations and deaths heading into the school year

Published August 27, 2024

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Elizabeth Payne

If it seems like many of your friends and neighbours have been sick with COVID this summer, you are not wrong.

Ottawa is experiencing a COVID-19 wave that is sending people to hospital, causing outbreaks in long-term care homes, retirement homes and hospital wards, and even causing deaths among some of the most vulnerable. At least one local hospital has tightened masking requirements following outbreaks there, and Ottawa Public Health is advising students to take precautions when they head back to school, including staying home when sick and wearing masks for their own protection and the protection of others.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Mpox vaccination program sees brisk uptake in Ottawa

Published August 20, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Jocelyn Shepel

Public health officials in Ottawa are ramping up a vaccination program to limit the spread of the mpox virus, and there are signs that early uptake has been brisk.

After announcing on Saturday that it was opening 36 spots for vaccination against the virus that causes the infectious disease formerly known as monkeypox, Centretown health clinic MAX Ottawa said Monday it’s fully booked and exploring ways to expand the program.

Ottawa Public Health’s (OPH) Sexual Health Clinic on Clarence Street is also offering vaccination against mpox. Eligibility criteria can be found on the OPH website.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Mpox cases on the rise again, OPH warns

Published April 18, 2024

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Published by: CBC News
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By Isabel Harder

Mpox cases in Ontario are on the rise, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is warning local doctors and nurses.

The province has reported 26 cases so far in 2024, with OPH noting in its Wednesday statement that four had been confirmed in Ottawa.

Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is a rare viral disease that is typically endemic in some central and west African countries.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Ottawa Public Library to provide free solar eclipse glasses for residents

Published March 27, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By William Eltherington

The Ottawa Public Library will be providing free solar eclipse glasses to residents in anticipation of a partial solar eclipse on April 8.

While supplies last, the glasses that provide proper protection for eclipse viewing will include a printed handout with safety instructions.

The City of Ottawa says it will launch the initiative on Thursday, March 28. All library branches will have total solar eclipse glasses available for the public, starting when branches open on Thursday.

Officials say quantities of glasses are limited, so branches will run out before April 8.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Will Ottawa Public Health stop updating its COVID-19 dashboard?

Published January 30, 2024

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Published by: CTV News
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By Toula Mazloum

Ottawa Public Health is clarifying the confusion that has been circulating on social media around its plans to phase out its COVID-19 dashboard.

While the current COVID-19 dashboard will be discontinued in February, the health unit pledges to continue to give updates about COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses circulating in the capital.

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Low rates of COVID vaccination putting the elderly at risk: medical officer of health

Published December 6, 2023

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Elizabeth Payne

Nearly half of people over 80 in Ottawa have not received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, leaving them at risk for severe outcomes if they become infected, Ottawa’s medical officer of health is warning.

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Ottawa Public Health wrapping up COVID-19 operations, cutting pandemic staff

Published December 4, 2023

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Published by: CTV News
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By Josh Pringle

Ottawa Public Health will layoff most of its COVID-19 staff by the end of the year and wrap up its immunization programming at the end of March, as the Ontario government stops reimbursing for extraordinary costs related to the pandemic.

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Ottawa Public Health to let go most remaining COVID-19 staff as province ends special pandemic fundingA healthcare worker is administering a vaccine dose to a patient. The healthcare worker is holding the needle with their right hand. They are wearing black clothes, and there is a green background.
Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Ottawa Public Health to let go most remaining COVID-19 staff as province ends special pandemic funding

Published December 3, 2023

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Elizabeth Payne

Ottawa Public Health will let go most of its remaining COVID-19 staff by the end of the year as the province stops directly reimbursing most costs related to the pandemic.

OPH will continue offering vaccines to the most vulnerable, including long-term care residents and recent immigrants, but will wrap up broader COVID-19 efforts by the end of March.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

COVID-19 cases show major weekly rise, OPH says

Published November 15, 2023

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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Ottawa Public Health on Wednesday reported three more deaths due to COVID-19, as well as 207 new cases over the seven days ending Monday.

The new data collected Tuesday brings the total number of deaths to 1,136, while 94,917 cases of COVID-19 have been registered since the pandemic began.

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

Comment se procurer les vaccins contre la COVID-19 et la grippe à Ottawa et en Outaouais ?

Published November 1, 2023

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Published by: Radio-Canada
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Ontario launched its vaccination campaign this week, allowing most people to get COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

According to the latest update from Ottawa Public Health (OPH), Ottawa health facilities are at high risk for respiratory diseases such as COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau

How to get COVID-19, flu vaccines in Ottawa

Published November 1, 2023

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Published by: CBC News
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The province cranked the 2023-24 respiratory season vaccine campaign wide open this week, allowing most people to get updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

Ottawa’s health-care institutions are at high risk from respiratory illness such as COVID, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH)’s latest update.

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Topic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators

Public Health should offer N95 masks

Published June 28, 2023

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Published by: Ottawa Citizen
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By Mike Buckthought

Re: Heavy smoke, smog wallop Ottawa, cancelling Dragon Boat, Indigenous festivals, June 25.

Thanks to climate change, we’re experiencing unprecedented hazardous air quality. Concentrations of pollutants have been an order of magnitude greater than the levels in major cities. And more smoke is on the way.

Ottawa Public Health should follow the example of public health organizations in other cities: it should distribute N95 respirators to Ottawa residents. Huron Perth Public Health is now offering respirators to residents who are at high risk for respiratory issues.

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