COVID-19 in Ottawa: Fast Facts for Aug. 15, 2021

Pressure to mandate vaccines Calls for the Ontario government to follow Canada in mandating vaccines. CTV’s Jeremie Charron reports.

OTTAWA — Good morning. Here is the latest news on COVID-19 and its impact on Ottawa.

Fast Facts:

COVID-19 by the numbers in Ottawa (Ottawa Public Health data):

Testing:

Who should get a test?

Ottawa Public Health says you can get a COVID-19 test at an assessment centre, care clinic, or community testing site if any of the following apply to you:

Long-term care staff, caregivers, volunteers and visitors who are fully immunized against COVID-19 are not required to present a negative COVID-19 test before entering or visiting a long-term care home.

Where to get tested for COVID-19 in Ottawa:

There are several sites for COVID-19 testing in Ottawa. To book an appointment, visit https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/shared-content/assessment-centres.aspx

COVID-19 screening tool:

The COVID-19 screening tool for summer camp children and staff. All campers and staff must complete the COVID-19 School and Childcare screening tool daily.

Symptoms:

Classic Symptoms: fever, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath

Other symptoms: sore throat, difficulty swallowing, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pneumonia, new or unexplained runny nose or nasal congestion

Less common symptoms: unexplained fatigue, muscle aches, headache, delirium, chills, red/inflamed eyes, croup

Ottawa Public Health reports 19 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday

Ottawa's COVID-19 case and active case numbers continue to rise.

Ottawa Public Health reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa on Saturday.

Since the first case of COVID-19 in Ottawa in March 2020, there have been 27,964 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, including 593 deaths.

There are now 129 active cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, the highest number of active cases since late June.

Canada to buy 40 million Moderna COVID-19 doses in next two years: Trudeau

Canada has finalized a deal to buy more doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine over the next two years.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada will buy another 40 million doses over the next two years, with the option to extend the deal until 2024.

Earlier in the week, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government that will see Canada host Moderna's first foreign operation.

Ottawa doctor, parents push for broader COVID-19 vaccine mandates ahead of back to school

An Ottawa doctor is organizing a rally, calling for a safe return to school in September.

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, who led the Jabapolooza clinics in Ottawa throughout the spring and summer, is pushing the province to mandate vaccines for everyone eligible.

“We’ve been working really hard trying to get all the 12-year-olds immunized so everybody in Grade 7 and 8 and beyond they would get back to school immunized," Dr. Kaplan-Myrth said.

The local family physician is now organizing a 'Safe September Rally’ at the Human Rights Monument on Elgin Street for Sunday, Aug. 22.

"It’s about people who are digging in their heels and saying, 'Well it's not required so I'm not going to get it, but if it were required I’d get it,'" she said. “They might be willing to with that little extra push.”