Ottawa’s COVID-19 fatality rate trending significantly lower in 2021 compared to 2020

From March 11 to Dec.

Case counts have been rising significantly in 2021.

Local public health officials are not yet able to say definitively why the number of deaths related to COVID-19 is lower now compared to last year.

Epidemiologists refer to a phenomenon known as “mortality displacement”, in which reports of deaths in the population during events such as pandemics occur in greater numbers earlier on and decrease in subsequent weeks.

Data from the Ontario government show a stabilization of the rate of deaths per 100,000 residents since early 2021.

OPH data show that 91 per cent of long-term care home residents had received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine as of Feb.

Additionally, OPH data show that, as of Monday, more than 85 per cent of all residents 80 to 89 in the city and more than 87 per cent of residents 90 or older have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

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