Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

May 5, 2021 – Special statement from Dr. Vera Etches

Hello. Bonjour. Kwey.

As we continue to roll out vaccines to as many people as we can as quickly and efficiently as we can, I want to thank residents for their patience.

As Mr. Di Monte mentioned, this week we started our first drop-in community pop-up clinics in neighbourhoods that have been more impacted by COVID-19. These neighbourhoods have higher COVID rates and face greater barriers to immunization, so we know there is more we need to do here.

In the weeks to come, adults 18 years of age and older who live in  neighbourhoods at higher risk, which are listed on our website, will be eligible for a vaccine. They will be notified of clinic and registration options through a targeted approach with our community partners.

#CommunityImmunity

As more people receive their vaccine, become eligible to book their vaccine, and as vaccine supply increases, we get closer to achieving community immunity.

Today Ottawa Public Health and the City launched a new campaign to increase awareness of vaccines, share resources, how to talk about vaccines with your friends and family, address why you should get one, what you can do while you wait for your vaccine and what to do after you receive it.

While we are getting closer every day, it will take time to reach community immunity. Until that time, we must continue to follow the public health measures that keep us safe from COVID-19 and its variants – get tested if you show symptoms, stay home if you are sick, wash your hands, wear a mask, and maintain physical distancing from those outside your household.

Visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/CommunityImmunity for more information on this campaign and how you can help spread the word.

I recognize that the information about vaccines is constantly evolving. The vaccine rollout is a dynamic process. We will continue to use multiple channels to communicate as clearly as we can with you about when it is your turn and where you can be vaccinated. Please continue to check OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVID19vaccine.

My advice to you has been and continues to be to take the first vaccine that is made available to you. All vaccines currently in use in Canada have been approved by Health Canada and are safe and effective against COVID-19 infection, serious illness and hospitalization. The benefits of all vaccines far outweigh the risks of getting COVID-19.

If you’re still unsure, know that informed consent and having open and inclusive conversations are  important components of increasing vaccine confidence, so talk about your options with your health care provider.

Get tested

Our monitoring indicators continue to show a slight decline in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, as is the per cent positivity rate.

We have also seen the testing rate go down in recent weeks, and while this is likely due to a number of factors, including the result of the current Stay-at-Home order, I am concerned when testing drops too much. We want to continue to detect COVID-19 in the community, so I encourage anyone who is experiencing symptoms to get tested right away. This will allow us to get a more accurate idea of how much COVID-19 there is in the community, but more importantly it will allow us to support people who do test positive and provide them with important isolation and contact tracing information and advise on when to seek medical attention.

Visit our website to find out how, when and where you should get tested.

Mental Health Week

These are challenging times and feeling worried or lonely is natural. Good mental health does not mean feeling happy all the time. This year, the theme for Mental Health Week is to #GetReal – let's name, express and deal with our emotions – even the uncomfortable ones. Heavy feelings become lighter when we put them into words. This week, and every week, I encourage you to reach out and have that talk about mental health and mental health challenges with a friend, a colleague, or a trusted mental health professional like our friends at the Distress Centre or a local counsellor. Mental health resources can be found online at www.OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVIDMentalHealth.

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For many, the most challenging part of this pandemic has been our inability to visit our loved ones in person. We miss hugs, sharing meals and sitting closely together while catching up. The friends or relatives across town might as well be across the country. Ottawa, we are getting to a point where in-person visits will be possible, but we're still not quite there yet.

This Mother’s Day, I encourage you to celebrate virtually. Even if mom or grandma has been vaccinated, we all need to keep maintaining those behaviours that will keep COVID-19 at bay until more people are protected from the vaccine. So stick with your household and continue to find those special and creative ways to tell someone you love them from a distance.

Community immunity is about more than vaccines; it’s about working together to do everything we can to protect each other.

Thank you. Merci. Meegwetch.