At the end of Friday, flu assessment clinics across Ottawa closed due to declining demand, said the city in a press release.
Centretown Community Health Centre closed its flu assessment clinic on Monday for the same reason.
Only one clinic at the Tungasuvvingat Inuit Community Centre will continue to operate.
The clinics were set up for people who didn’t have or couldn’t immediately contact a family physician for assessment. After they opened, local hospitals reported a decrease in the number of patients visiting emergency departments with flu-like symptoms.
The number of new cases in Ottawa are decreasing, but the H1N1 flu virus continues to circulate in the community, said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health in the press release.
However, most cases are becoming milder and can be cared for at home.
People who are at greater risk of developing complications – such as seniors, toddlers, pregnant women and individuals with medical conditions – should see a physician or go to a walk-in clinic. As well, people seeing their symptoms quickly worsen should seek medical attention.
As the best defence to the flu, residents to get the flu shot, said Levy in the press release.
For more information on H1N1 and vaccination clinics, visit ottawa.ca/health or contact the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744.