Staff and residents of long-term care homes continue to bear the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in Ottawa, with more than 500 cases now reported in local facilities.
Ottawa Public Health reported 76 new coronavirus cases across the city on Wednesday, bringing the local total to 1,297. Five more people have died in relation to the virus in the last 24 hours, raising the city’s pandemic death toll to 76. [ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ] The proportion of cases inside Ottawa’s long-term care facilities has been on the rise since last week when the Ontario government instructed local health units to conduct full testing of anyone working or living inside the homes, regardless of symptoms.