The City of Ottawa through Ottawa Public Health is working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario, and the Public Health Agency of Canada to keep residents healthy. You can visit Ottawa Public Health’s website to get the latest information regarding the City of Ottawa. The Province also has a dedicated website where the Province is sharing its latest information.
At this time, the population at risk for contracting the novel coronavirus are people who have visited Wuhan, the surrounding province of Hubei, and people who have come in close contact with someone who has a respiratory illness within the last 14 days to becoming ill. Travelers who have returned from the affected area have been given special messaging and screening.
I know that public health officials are working around the clock to ensure that all measures are taken to contain the spread of the virus. There have been 40 individuals tested for the virus in Ontario due to their travel and medical history and if one of the patients did test positive, Ottawa Public Health would communicate to the public with more information.
Currently, the best way you can help is by:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your arm, not your hand
- If possible, stay home if you are not feeling well
- Avoid visiting people in hospitals or long-term care centers if you are not feeling well
Additionally, at yesterday’s City Council meeting, Dr. Etches provided a briefing to all members of Council. You can read her remarks here. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out at Jenna.Sudds@ottawa.ca.
Update 1: The individual being tested for Coronavirus came back negative. There are currently no confirmed or presumptive positive cases of novel coronavirus in Ottawa.
Update 2: Please see this helpful handout form Ottawa Public Health:
