The number of lab-confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus ballooned over the weekend in Ottawa, but the rate of hospitalization took a step back — an important metric in determining whether infections have peaked in the capital.
Ottawa Public Health says it has identified 1,154 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in the city as of Sunday at 4 pm.
That’s 120 more cases than the local health unit had reported before the weekend. Friday proved to be the city’s deadliest day yet of the pandemic, with eight people dying in connection to the virus over a 24-hour period.
In total, Ottawa’s coronavirus death toll rose 59 over the weekend. [ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ] There