Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID-19 numbers are low and mostly stable.

• A high average test positivity drives the EOHU into moderate risk territory.

• Six more local COVID deaths have been reported.

The latest

Ottawa's pandemic trends are generally low and stable, according to Ottawa Public Health (OPH).

OPH has not indicated any concerning trend since early this year, which is similar to the wider region outside of Ottawa.

Experts recommend people wear masks indoors. Staying up to date with COVID vaccines can also help protect vulnerable people. Other guidance can vary between Ontario and Quebec.

Wastewater

Data from the research team shows, as of the most recent update May 16, the average coronavirus wastewater level has been low and stable for a week.

This average generally stayed within the same range for a year, so this month has been an outlier.

Hospitals

The number of Ottawa residents in local hospitals for COVID-19 has been slowly dropping. The number was seven in Friday's update, with no patients in ICU.

It hasn't been that low since June 2022.

A separate count that includes patients who tested positive for COVID after being admitted for other reasons, those admitted for lingering COVID complications, and those transferred from other health units is stable.

Tests, outbreaks and deaths

Ottawa has a stable six active COVID outbreaks and an average test positivity rate around seven per cent, which has been stable for about 10 days. According to OPH, both numbers are considered low.

OPH reported 72 more COVID cases in the last week and the deaths of four more people who had COVID.

Vaccines

Thirteen per cent of Ottawans age five and older have had a COVID-19 vaccine dose within the last six months, with older age groups having higher vaccination rates. This does not factor in immunity from getting COVID.

Ontario's vaccine recommendations changed in early April to focus on higher-risk people.

As of the most recent weekly update, 85 per cent of Ottawa residents had at least one COVID vaccine dose, 82 per cent had at least two, 56 per cent at least three and 31 per cent at least four.

Across the region

Spread

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU)'s COVID-19 risk level rises to moderate based on a high average test positivity. Its other trends are seen as low.

Coronavirus wastewater averages are low and stable in Kingston. They're otherwise out of date or unavailable outside of Ottawa.

Hospitalizations and deaths

Eastern Ontario communities outside Ottawa report about 20 COVID-19 hospitalizations, with two patients in intensive care in Renfrew County.

That regional count doesn't include Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) Public Health, which shares a weekly average of its local hospitalization count: one in its most recent weekly update.

Western Quebec drops to 24 hospital patients with COVID. None of them are in intensive care.

The EOHU reported its 304th COVID death this week and the Belleville area reported its 116th.

Vaccines

The Kingston area's health unit says 13 per cent of its population age five and older have had a COVID vaccine in the last six months.

That number drops to 13 per cent in HPE, and it remains unavailable elsewhere.