Posted: Feb 24, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: February 24
Officials say shelters are becoming more crowded and that makes it more difficult to control the spread of COVID-19.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
As Ottawa s network of shelters, respite centres and physical distancing centres reach capacity, outbreaks within the system continue to grow and support systems are left playing catch up, trying to get them under control.
According to Ottawa Public Health s (OPH) COVID-19 dashboard, there are five active outbreaks at shelters across the city affecting 252 people. While OPH does not list the names of shelters on its dashboard, cases at one in particular have continued to grow. Two weeks ago it reported 70 positive cases. There are now 108.