What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 15

Recent developments:

• Ontario is further relaxing restrictions on visits to long-term care homes, both inside and outside.
• Starting Saturday, private-sector employersin Quebec can bring up to one-quarter of their staff back to the office.
• Ottawa's medical officer of health says residents should plan to live with COVID-19 for another year or two.

What's the latest?

Indoor visits will resume at long-term care homes in Ontario starting July 22. Effective immediately, two visitors at a time will be allowed outdoors. All visitors will need proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Private-sector businesses in Quebec can bring up to one-quarter of their employees back to the office starting Saturday. Masks will be mandatory where distancing is not possible.

Ottawa's medical officer of health says public health officials areplanning for COVID-19 to be in the community for another year or two, and residents should be thinking the same way.

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How many cases are there?

There have been 2,167 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa and 263 deaths, according to the latest Ottawa Public Health report available on Wednesday. The vast majority of cases in the city, 1,846, are classified as resolved. Gatineau has reported 542total cases.

Public health officials have reported nearly 3,500 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, of which nearly 3,000 are resolved.

Kingston, which saw a spike in new cases in late June mainly related to a nail salon, hasn't reported a new case of COVID-19 since July 5.

COVID-19 has killed 102 people outside Ottawa: 52 in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties, 17 in other parts of eastern Ontario and 33 in the Outaouais.

What's open and closed?

Eastern Ontario is moving to Stage 3 of the province's reopening plan Friday, increasing gathering sizes (but not the circle size of 10 people) and allowing more activities inside.

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Quebec now allows indoor, distanced gatherings of up to 50 people, including in places of worship and indoor sports venues, and has relaxed rules at daycares.

The National Gallery of Canada will reopen Thursdays to Sundays, starting this Saturday and Sunday with free admission.

Gatineau plans to open more sports facilities next week.

The agriculture, science and aviation museums plan a staggered reopening next month.

Quebec's back-to-school plans bring older students to classrooms again. Ontario has put three options for next school year on the table, while post-secondary schools are moving toward more online classes in September.

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Distancing and isolating

The coronavirus primarily spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. People don't need to have symptoms to be contagious.

That means physical distancing measures such as working from home and in Ontario, staying at least two metres away from anyone they don't live with or have in their circle.

Masks are now mandatory in indoor public settings in all of eastern Ontario, and will be mandatory in Quebec as of Saturday.

Ottawa city council passed a bylaw Wednesday that brings the possibility of fines for people whodon't wear one.

Anyone who has symptoms or travelled recently outside Canada must self-isolate for at least 14 days.

Specifically in Ottawa, anyone waiting for a COVID-19 test result must self-isolate at least until they know the result.

The same goes for anyone in Ontario who's been in contact with someone who's tested positive or is presumed to have COVID-19.

Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health strongly urges self-isolation for individuals who have weakened immune systems and Ottawa Public Health recommends people over 70 stay home as much as possible.

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What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

COVID-19 can range from a cold-like illness to a severe lung infection, with common symptoms including fever, a dry cough, vomiting and the loss of taste or smell.

Less common symptoms include chills, headaches and pinkeye. The Ontario government says in rare cases, children can develop a rash.

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

Where to get tested

In eastern Ontario:

In Ottawa any resident who feels they need a test, even if they are not showing symptoms, can now be tested at one of three sites.

Inuit in Ottawa can call the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team at 613-740-0999 for service, including testing, in Inuktitut or English on weekdays.

Testing has also expanded for local residents and employees who work in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit area.

There is a drive-thru test centre in Casselman and assessment centres in Hawkesbury and Winchester that don't require people to call ahead.

Others in Rockland and Cornwall require an appointment.

A COVID-19 assessment centre has opened in Alexandria, running Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only.

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In Kingston, the Leon's Centre is now open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, replacing the previous location at the Kingston Memorial Centre. Find it at Gate 2.

Napanee's test centre is open daily for people who call for an appointment.

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The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark unit asks you to get tested if you have a symptom or concerns about exposure.

It has a walk-in site in Brockville open seven days a week at the Memorial Centre and testing sites in Smiths Falls and Almonte which require an appointment.

The public health unit in the Belleville area is asking people to call it, their family doctor or Telehealth if they have symptoms or questions.

You can arrange a test in Bancroft, Belleville or Trenton by calling the centre, or in Picton by texting or calling 613-813-6864.

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Renfrew County is also providing pop-up and home testing under some circumstances. Residents without access to a family doctor can call 1-844-727-6404 to register for a test or if they have health questions, COVID-19-related or not.

If you're concerned about the coronavirus, take the self-assessment.

In western Quebec:

Outaouais residents should call 1-877-644-4545 if they have symptoms for further assistance.

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First Nations:

Local communities have declared states of emergency, put in a curfew or both.

Akwesasne has opened a mobile COVID-19 test site available by appointment only. Anyone returning to Akwesasne who's been farther than 80 kilometres away is asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Anyone in Tyendinaga who's interested in a test can call 613-967-3603 to talk to a nurse. Face coverings are now mandatory in its public buildings.

Both councils plan to start up more services next week. Pikwakanagan did so July 13.

Kitigan Zibi is planning for an Aug. 29 election with changes depending on the status of the pandemic at that time.

For more information

• Ottawa Public Health.
• Your local eastern Ontario health unit.
• The Ontario Ministry of Health (in several languages).
• The Centre intgr de sant et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada.