COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationOttawa, Ontario, Canada
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Arrival dateMarch 11, 2020
DateDecember 12, 2021
Confirmed cases32,737
Active cases611
Recovered31,508
Deaths
618
Fatality rate2.12%
Government website
Ottawa Public Health
An impromptu message left for essential workers near the Ottawa General Hospital, May 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa is part of the global ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Ottawa is the 4th most populous city in Canada, the second largest city in Ontario, and the capital city of Canada.[1]

On March 11, 2020, the first identified case of COVID-19 in Ottawa was a man in his 40s who travelled to Austria, stated Ottawa's medical officer of health, Dr. Vera Etches. It was found to be a travel-related case, showing that there was no evidence of community spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Ottawa.[2][3] On March 25, 2020, Mayor Jim Watson declared a local state of emergency, eight days after Premier Doug Ford declared a provincial state of emergency.[4][5][6] Initial restrictions preventing essential businesses from operating (such as the closure of indoor dining and personal care services) continued through until June 12, 2020, when the government of Ontario allowed Ottawa to enter Stage 2 of reopening.[7] Ottawa Public Health announced that masks are mandatory in all public indoor settings on July 15, 2020.[8] On July 17, 2020, Ottawa was allowed into Stage 3 of reopening.[9]

Starting in the early summer of 2020, Ottawa saw a significant decline of new cases.[10] Along with other areas of Canada, cases began to steadily rise in late summer and early autumn.[11] Ottawa, Peel Region, York Region and Toronto began to face restrictions based on rising viral spread and were initially knocked back into a modified Stage 2 tier until the province introduced a new colour-coded Response Framework for the province involving five tiers based on regional COVID-19 numbers.[12] Ottawa had its modified Stage 2 status lifted for parts of November, until the province declared a province-wide shutdown beginning December 26, 2020.[13] This included the declaration of a second state of emergency in January 2021 and stay-at-home orders for the entire province. Ottawa's stay-at-home orders were lifted on February 16, 2021, and Ottawa was moved into the "Orange-Restrict" category of prevention measures.[14]

Vaccine rollout

In December 2020, Health Canada approved the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the mRNA-1273 vaccine developed by Moderna. Widespread plans for COVID-19 vaccinations across Canada and the province began during the week of December 14, 2020.[15] On February 26, 2021, Health Canada approved the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use.[16] In Ottawa, the first vaccine was administered at the Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus, on December 15, 2020. It was the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, as the mRNA-1273 vaccine developed by Moderna was administered at a later date.[17][18] Vaccine rollout plans for Ottawa started for only Long Term Care (LTC) residents, staff, and certain health-care workers, but slowly expanded to a larger range. As of March 5, 2021, adults 90 years of age or older anywhere in the city can receive their COVID-19 vaccine, along with the Inuit, First Nations, and Métis populations. Adults 80 years of age or older living in certain high-risk neighbourhoods can receive their vaccine doses.[19] Residents in Ottawa shelters can also receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose.[18][20] On May 18, vaccines became available to all Ontarians over 18. All available appointments in Ottawa were booked up in just two and half hours. Multiple pop-up vaccine clinics have opened in the city. As of May 25, 2020, all residents twelve and over, can book a vaccine appointment.[21][22]

Sign thanking essential workers, on a building overlooking Dow's Lake.

Mass vaccination

On March 12, 2021, one of Ottawa's first mass vaccination sites opened at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital.[23] The site is currently open to anyone eligible, [lower-alpha 1] and is appointment-only.[24] The hospital plans to administer 1,100 daily doses at its peak.[23]

Timeline

2020

March

On March 11, the first identified COVID-19 case in Ottawa was recorded. It was found to be a travel-related case, showing no evidence that there was community spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Ottawa.[25][26]

On March 13, the city's first COVID-19 Assessment Centre opens at Brewer Arena.[25]

On March 16, the city closed all municipal facilities. They would remain closed until June 2020.[25]

On March 25, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declares a state of emergency. On the same day, Ottawa has its first confirmed COVID-19 death when a man in his 90s dies at the Ottawa Hospital.[25]

April

On April 1, border checkpoints such as this one on the Alexandra Bridge were implemented on the Quebec border after the Quebec government imposed travel restrictions.

On April 1, the Quebec government imposed travel restrictions between Ontario and Quebec, setting up checkpoints at the five crossings of the Ottawa River, which separates the city of Ottawa in Ontario and Gatineau in Quebec. Restrictions lasted until May 18.[25]

On April 9, a COVID-19 outbreak is declared at Carlingview Manor, a long-term care home which would be the hardest hit care home in the city. The outbreak ended on June 18.[25]

June

On June 12, the city entered Stage 2 of the province's re-opening plan, allowing malls, businesses, restaurant patios and hair salons to re-open.[25]

On June 15, OC Transpo became the first public transit authority in Canada to make face masks mandatory.[25]

July

On July 7, masks are made mandatory in all indoor public spaces in the city.[25]

On July 15, Ottawa City Council approved a face mask by-law in the city for enclosed public spaces. It came with a fine of between $200 and $400.[25]

On July 17, the city entered Stage 3 of the province's re-opening plan, allowing bars and restaurants to open for indoor dining, as well as movie theatres, gyms and fitness centres.[25]

August

On August 26, City Council extended the mask by-law to include common areas of apartments and condominiums.[25]

September

On September 18, the city's chief medical officer, Dr. Vera Etches announced the city had entered the second wave of pandemic, blaming the relaxing of measures in August.[25]

On September 19, Monsignor Paul Baxter School in Barrhaven was ordered closed for 14 days due to an outbreak. Three more schools were closed in October.[25]

On September 22, a possible transmission during an outdoor barbecue at a park eventually results in 27 positive cases.[25]

On September 25, an outbreak is declared at the Extendicare Starwood long-term care home, which resulted in 25 residents dying. It was the hardest hit LTC during the second wave of the pandemic.[25]

October

On October 8, an indoor wedding with no physical distancing or people wearing masks leads to 22 cases of COVID-19.[25]

On October 10, Ottawa moved into a "modified stage 2" resulting in the temporary closure of indoor dining at restaurants and bars and the closure of fitness centres and movie theatres.[25]

On October 14, it was announced that Ottawa had the highest rate of COVID-19 in the province.[25]

On October 15, a 53-year-old woman was charged with breaking the Quarantine Act for failing to self-isolate for 14 days after travelling abroad and returning to work at a long-term care home.[25]

November

On November 7, the city becomes part of the "orange-restrict" zone following the province's new colour-coded tiered restriction system. This allowed for indoor dining to return with a 50-person limit and last call at 9pm. Gyms, fitness centres and movie theatres were also allowed to re-open.[25]

December

On December 14, the city received its first vaccine shipment, with 3,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arriving at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.[25]

On December 15, the first person in the city was vaccinated, Jo-Anne Miner, a personal support worker.[25]

On December 21, it was announced that the city would go under a 28-day lockdown beginning on Boxing Day. Mayor Watson and Dr. Etches expressed disdain at the decision.[25]

On December 26, the city went under another lockdown, where only essential businesses were allowed to remain open.[25]

On December 27, the first case of the UK coronavirus variant was detected in the city from someone who had recently returned from the UK.[25]

2021

January

On January 5, a pilot project began to move doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from the Ottawa Hospital directly to long-term care homes. Residents at the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre are the first to receive the vaccine outside of a hospital.[27]

On January 8, it was announced that students would not be returning to school from Christmas vacation on the 11th as had been anticipated, but would do virtual schooling for the next two weeks.[28]

On January 9, the Department of Canadian Heritage announced that Ottawa's annual Winterlude festival would be held virtually this year.[29]

On January 17, an outbreak at the Valley Stream retirement home in Nepean leads to four deaths.[30]

On January 20, it was announced that schools in the city will remain closed. They had been set to re-open on the 25th.[31]

On January 22, the city bans sledding and tobogganing at Mooney's Bay Hill due to consistent large crowds.[32]

On January 27, city council unanimously approved extending the city's temporary mask by-law until April 29.[33]

February

On February 5, the fist doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the city.[34]

On February 8, the provincial government announced that the city's stay at home order would last until February 16. It had been in effect since December 26.[35]

On February 9, the first case of the B.1.351 variant (first identified in South African) of the virus was confirmed.[36]

On February 16, the city reopened into the province's "Orange-Restrict" zone.[37]

On February 17, two employees at the Stirling Park Retirement Community were fired after accusations one of them allowed their wife to be vaccinated while stopping a housekeeper from getting theirs.[38]

March

On March 2, it was announced that police officers with the Ottawa Police Service would begin getting vaccinations on the 3rd.[39]

On March 12, the city opened its first mass vaccination community clinic at the Nepean Sportsplex, and is available to all residents over 90.[40]

On March 19, the city once again entered into the province's "red zone", which means limiting social gatherings to five people indoors and 25 people outdoors, restaurants only being able to seat ten people inside, tighter capacity at gyms, banning of team sports and closures of movie theatres.[41]

April

On April 1, it was announced that 34 pharmacies in the city could start offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to adults over 55.[42]

On April 3, the entire province goes under a four-week lockdown amid a rising case numbers as the province enters the third wave of the pandemic.[43]

On April 6, the province released a list of forward sortation areas declared as "hot spots" where adults 50 and over would be able to get vaccinations.[44] In Ottawa, this included K1T and K1V in the city's south end and K2V in Kanata. The inclusion of the latter was scrutinized due to having lower than average COVID-19 cases.[45]

On April 8, the entire province goes on a stay-at-home order.[46]

On April 16, the day before the province's new orders temporarily allowing police to conduct random stops to enforce the stay-at-home order, the Ottawa Police Service announced that they would not be using their new powers.[47] The new orders include restrictions to provincial border crossings (including the installation of checkpoints), prohibiting outdoor social gatherings, closure of all non-essential workplaces, the reduction of capacity limits in retail settings, and the closure of outdoor recreational amenities, including playgrounds.[48]

On April 20, following the province's reversal on not allowing playground use, the city announced that anyone within 5m of playground equipment would be required to wear masks, as of April 21.[49]

On April 28, city councillors Eli El-Chantiry, Jan Harder and Carol Anne Meehan request that parks in their wards (all parks in Barrhaven Ward and Gloucester-South Nepean Ward and Sheila McKee Park in West Carleton-March Ward) be closed at 9pm (rather than 11pm) in accordance with new measures to make it easier for law enforcement to police large public gatherings. They are the only councillors to make such a request.[50]

May

On May 18, vaccines became available to all Ontarians over 18. All available appointments in Ottawa were booked up in just 2 and half hours.[22]

On May 19, Ottawa Public Health announced that splash pads would be allowed to be open in the city beginning on the weekend. They would be allowed to be open during the stay-at-home order because they were considered to be "like playgrounds". However, unlike playgrounds, people would not have to wear masks while using them.[51] A day later, after some splash pads had opened, it was announced that they would not be, as they were included as part of Ontario's re-opening plan, set to take force June 14.[52] On May 21, the province relented and decided to allow splash pads after all.[53]

On May 23, vaccine appointments were made available to anyone aged 12 and over.[54]

June

On June 11 at 12:01am, bars and restaurants in the city will be allowed to open their patios (until 2am) as part of Step one of the province's re-opening plans.[55]

On June 16, non-essential travel restrictions between Ontario and Quebec will be removed.[56]

July

On July 11, it was announced that fans could be in attendance at a sporting event in the city for the first time since the pandemic began. 1,000 fans will be allowed to attend the final three remaining Ottawa Blackjacks games of the season, beginning July 17.[57]

On July 22, the city's state of emergency in effect since March 25, 2020 comes to an end.[58]

December

On December 18, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson announced that he tested positive for COVID-19.[59]

Following a spike in the number of cases thanks to the omicron variant, new capacity restrictions are re-imposed on businesses on December 20, capping capacity at 50%.[60]

On December 23, the city announced a new 25-person limit on outdoor ice rinks and trails, to come into effect December 26.[61]

2022

February

On February 17, the province removed capacity limits for restaurants, gyms, movie theatres, meeting spaces, gaming establishments and other indoor areas that opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements. Private gathering sizes also increased to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.[62]

March

On March 1, the province removed the proof of vaccination system requirement for non-essential businesses.[63]

Notable closures relating to the pandemic

• All places of worship[64]
• Public schools[64]
• National museums[65]

Criticism

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Anyone 12 and over.

References

  1. ↑ "The Largest Cities in Canada". WorldAtlas. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Ottawa records 1st case of coronavirus | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ Dept, Innovative Client Services (April 16, 2020). "Archived - First confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ottawa". ottawa.ca. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ Dept, Innovative Client Services (March 25, 2020). "Mayor Watson declares state of emergency for Ottawa due to COVID-19". ottawa.ca. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ Raymond, Ted (March 25, 2020). "Watson declares state of emergency in Ottawa over COVID-19". Ottawa. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  7. ↑ Pringle, Josh (June 25, 2020). "Ottawa will enter Stage 3 of COVID-19 reopening plan 'hopefully' by fall: Dr. Etches". Ottawa. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Masks mandatory as of midnight in Ottawa, region | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ Pringle, Josh (July 17, 2020). "Ottawa enters Stage 3: Nearly all businesses can reopen during COVID-19 pandemic". Ottawa. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Statistics on Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) in Ottawa". www.ottawapublichealth.ca. February 10, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ottawa in second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: Dr. Etches". Ottawa. September 18, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Ontario Newsroom | Salle de presse de l'Ontario". news.ontario.ca. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  13. ↑ "What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Saturday, Dec. 26 | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  14. ↑ "COVID-19 restrictions ease in Ottawa, eastern Ontario following shutdown | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ontario releases three-phase COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan with inoculations to begin on Tuesday". CP24. December 11, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Health Canada approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  17. ↑ "The Ottawa Hospital delivers first COVID-19 vaccination in Ottawa | The Ottawa Hospital". www.ottawahospital.on.ca. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "COVID-19 Vaccine". www.ottawapublichealth.ca. March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Every Ottawa resident could receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by summer, Ottawa Hospital CEO says". Ottawa. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  20. ↑ Dept, Innovative Client Services (March 9, 2021). "Vaccine distribution". ottawa.ca. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  21. ↑ "COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expands to Ottawa residents 12 and older on Sunday". May 21, 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Vaccination appointments fill up fast as age lowered to 18+". CBC Ottawa. May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  23. 1 2 "Ottawa COVID-19 vaccine clinic opens at Queensway Carleton Hospital". Global News. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  24. ↑ "QCH's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic expands to vaccinate eligible individuals". www.qch.on.ca. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 "2020 year in review: A timeline of COVID-19 in Ottawa". Ottawa. December 31, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Coronavirus: 1st case of COVID-19 reported in Ottawa". Global News. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Long-term care residents can now receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in their homes". CTV Ottawa. January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Back-to-school for Ottawa students delayed until Jan. 25". CTV Ottawa. January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Canadian Heritage cancels in-person Winterlude events due to COVID-19". CTV Ottawa. January 9, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  30. ↑ "COVID-19 outbreak at Valley Stream Retirement Residence claims four lives". CTV Ottawa. January 17, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Ottawa schools will remain closed for in-person learning next week, Ontario government announces". CTV Ottawa. January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Ottawa bans sledding at Mooney's Bay Hill after large crowds gather at popular winter attraction". CTV Ottawa. January 22, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Masks mandatory in Ottawa's enclosed public spaces, public transit until end of April". CTV Ottawa. January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  34. ↑ "First doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Ottawa will target retirement homes". CTV Ottawa. February 5, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Stay-at-home order for Ottawa extended by one week; Ends Wednesday in Kingston, Renfrew". CTV Ottawa. February 8, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Ottawa sees its first case of South African COVID-19 variant". CTV Ottawa. February 9, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  37. ↑ Raymond, Ted (February 16, 2021). "COVID-19 in Ottawa: Fast Facts for Feb. 16, 2021". Ottawa. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Two Ottawa retirement home employees fired amid allegations of queue jumping for COVID-19 vaccine". CTV Ottawa. February 17, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Ottawa police officers to begin COVID-19 vaccinations Wednesday". CTV Ottawa. March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Ottawa residents 90 and older line up for mass COVID-19 vaccination clinicy". CTV Ottawa. March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Ottawa moving into COVID-19 red zone on Friday". CTV Ottawa. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Ottawa pharmacies prepare to begin administering COVID-19 vaccine as early as this weekend". CTV Ottawa. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Four-week shutdown 'definitely needed' in Ottawa: What you need to know about the new rules". CTV Ottawa. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  44. ↑ "These 'hot spots' getting vaccine priority are less hard-hit by COVID-19 than Ontario average". CBC Toronto. April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Ontario health minister denies political decision behind labelling Ottawa's K2V area a COVID-19 'hot spot'". CTV Ottawa. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Ontario Enacts Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order". Government of Ontario. April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  47. ↑ "Ottawa police not conducting random stops under new Ontario powers to enforce stay-at-home order". CTV Ottawa. April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  48. ↑ "A look at the new COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa". CTV Ottawa. April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Masks to become mandatory at Ottawa playgrounds starting Wednesday". CTV Ottawa. April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Three Ottawa councillors request 9 p.m. closing time for ward parks". CTV Ottawa. April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Ottawa splash pads open this week, no masks required in the water". CTV Ottawa. May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  52. ↑ @CBCOttawa (May 20, 2021). "NEW: It looks like splash pads will NOT open in #Ottawa since they're among outdoor amenities included as part of Step 1 of Ontario's reopening plan (expected to begin June 14)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  53. ↑ "Ontario government to allow splash pads to open in Ottawa after all". City TV. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  54. ↑ "COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expands to Ottawa residents 12 and older on Sunday". CTV Ottawa. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Here are the rules for Ottawa restaurant patios when they reopen on Friday". CTV Ottawa. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Ontario-Quebec border restrictions to end Wednesday". CBC Ottawa. June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Here are the rules for Ottawa restaurant patios when they reopen on Friday". CTV Ottawa. June 9, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  58. ↑ "City of Ottawa lifting COVID-19 state of emergency". CTV Ottawa. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  59. ↑ [New capacity limits for Ottawa businesses amid surging COVID-19 cases "Ottawa mayor Jim Watson tests positive for COVID-19"]. CTV Ottawa. December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  60. ↑ "New capacity limits for Ottawa businesses amid surging COVID-19 cases". CTV Ottawa. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  61. ↑ "New 25-person capacity limits for Ottawa's outdoor rinks, trails". CTV Ottawa. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Here's what you need to know about the new COVID-19 rules in Ottawa". Ottawa. February 17, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  63. ↑ "Most of Ontario's COVID-19 restrictions are lifting on March 1. Here's what you need to know". CP24. February 28, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  64. 1 2 "Events cancelled in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec due to COVID-19". CTV News Ottawa. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  65. ↑ "National museums closing until further notice due to COVID-19 concerns". CTV News Ottawa. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
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