What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Thursday, April 15

Recent developments:

• Ottawa has tied its one-dayrecord with 370 new COVID-19 cases.
• Moderna delays are expected to push back Canadian vaccine deliveries.
• Doour currentrestrictionsmatch the dire situation in Ottawa? Joanne Chianellotakes a look.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health is reporting 370 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, tying the city's one-day record. This April has nowseen more confirmed cases than any other month since the pandemic began.

Public health officialsin the Outaouaisarereporting 167 more cases and three more deaths.

Vaccine manufacturer Moderna is facing a persistent "quality assurance" backlog at its production facilities, resulting in days-long delivery delays ofdoses destined for Canada.

Joanne Chianello is highlightinga gap between the grim messaging andthe steps Ottawais taking in its parks to slow the spread.

How many cases are there?

The region is in a record-breaking third wave of the pandemic thatincludes more dangerous coronavirus variants, strainingtest sites and filling hospitals.

As of Thursday, 20,966Ottawa residents havetested positive for COVID-19. There are 2,953known active cases, 17,534 resolved cases and479deaths.

Public health officials have reported more than 38,500COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 32,600resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 158people have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 183.

Akwesasnehas had more than 580 residents test positive, evenly split between its northern and southern sections.

Kitigan Zibihas had27 cases.Tyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had 11, with one death.

CBC Ottawa is profilingthose who've died of COVID-19. If you'd like to share your loved one's story, pleaseget in touch.

What can I do?

Eastern Ontario:

Ontario is under a stay-at-home orderuntil at least the first week of May.

• Here's what you can do under a stay-at-home order

People can only leave home for essential reasons such as getting groceries or health care and exercising. They're asked to only leave their immediate area or province ifabsolutely necessary.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has saidbylaw officers will inspect stores and respond to complaints about homes and parks. Rules may tighten in city parks this weekend.

WATCH | Some of the facts about Ottawa's worst wave yet:

Ottawa hospitals will have extreme difficulty keeping up if COVID-19 cases keep rising, OPH says

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Duration 1:16

Dr. Brent Moloughney, Ottawas associate medical officer of health, says COVID-19 hospitalizations are doubling approximately every 12 days, leaving the health-care system at risk of being overwhelmed.

The vast majority of gatherings are prohibited, with exceptions such as people who live together,those who live alone andpair upwith one other household, and small religious services.

The National Capital Commission is again opening some stretches of road for active use this weekend.

Most non-essential businesses can only offer curbside pickup. Access to malls is restricted, and big-box stores can only sell essential items.

Gymsand personal care services must close, whilerestaurants are only available for takeout and delivery.

Ontario is indefinitely moving to online learning after April break. Daycares remain open for now.

Local health units and communitiescan also set their own rules, asPrince Edward County's is doing around traveland Kingston is doing forBreakwater Park.

Western Quebec

PremierFranois Legaulthas said the situation is critical in Gatineauand is asking people there to only leave home when it's essential.

Schools, gyms, theatres, personal care services and non-essential businesses are closed until April 25in the Outaouais.

Private gatherings are banned, except for a person who lives alone seeing one other household.Distanced outdoor exercise is allowed in groups up to eight people and masks are no longer mandatoryif doing so.

The curfewstarts at 8 p.m.

.

People thereare asked to only have close contact with people they live with, be masked and distanced for all other in-person contact and only leave their immediate area for essential reasonsunder threat of a fine if they go to a yellow or green zone.

The director of its health authority said Wednesdaythe provincial border checkpoints of spring 2020may return if the situation doesn't improve.

Distancing and isolating

The novel coronavirus primarily spreads through droplets thatcan hang in the air.

People can be contagious without symptoms, even after getting a vaccine. Coronavirus variants of concernaremore contagious and are spreading quickly.

What it feels like to put 8 patients on ventilators in one night

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Dr. Martin Betts, medical director of critical care for the Scarborough Health Network, explains the heartbreak of intubating eight different COVID-19 patients all in one night.

This means it isimportantto take precautions now and in the futurelikestaying home while sick and getting help with costs if needed keeping hands and surfaces clean and maintaining distance from anyone you don't live with, even with a mask on.

Masks, preferably ones that fit snugly and havethree layers, aremandatory in indoor public settingsin Ontarioand Quebec.

OPH says residents shouldwear masks outside their homes whenever possible.

WATCH | Inside one hospital at a crisis point:

Ottawa doctor using art to help grieving families heal

3 years ago

Duration 1:04

Dr. Marisa Azad says she began using her artistic talents to help grieving families after seeing what they went through in the intensive care unit. Since then, shes created a total of ten paintings to honour patients who have died.

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditions and/or weakened immune systemsgethelp with errands.

Peoplehaveto show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter Canada by land without a fineandhave to pay for their stay in a quarantine hotel if entering by air.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate, as should those who've beenordered to do so by their public health unit. The lengthvaries inQuebecandOntario.

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Ottawa resident participates in stem cell trial for COVID-19 patients

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Sharon Charlebois, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 in January, says she participated in a stem cell clinical trial aimed at helping her body fight the virus, hoping the results in her case may be useful for other patients as well.

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada.

Canada's task force said first dosesoffersuch strong protection that people can wait up to four months to get a second.

More than 500,000doseshave been given outin the Ottawa-Gatineau regionsince mid-December, including about 221,000 doses toOttawa residentsand about 90,000 in western Quebec.

COVID-19 3rd wave takes hold across much of Canada

3 years ago

Duration 2:02

The third wave of COVID-19 has taken hold across most of Canada, with provinces trying to fight back by tightening restrictions, keeping children out of the classroom and some considering mask mandates.

Eastern Ontario

Ontario is now in Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout, with the first doses during Phase 1 generally going tocare home residents and health-care workers.

All health units in eastern Ontarioare now vaccinating people age 60 and olderat their clinics. It's 55 and over in Renfrew County. Peoplecanbook appointments online or over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

People whoare above or turningage55 can contactparticipating pharmacies for a vaccine appointment.

• The Ottawa area's weekly COVID-19 vaccine checkup: April 15

Phase 2 includespeople with underlying health conditionsstartingthis month, followed byessential workerswho can't work from homein May.

Phase 3 should involve vaccinating anyone older than 16 starting in July.

Local health units have some flexibilityin the larger framework,so check their websitesfor details.

The province has opened up appointments for people age 50 to 54 in Ottawa'sK1T, K1V and K2V"hot spot" postal codes, though supply is currently limited.

Separately, some Ottawans in certain priority neighbourhoodscan check their eligibility online and make an appointment through the city. This shouldsoon include all education workers and staff inlarge workplaces.

Indigenous people over age 16 in Ottawa can make an appointment the same way.

Western Quebec

Quebec also started by vaccinatingpeople in care homes and health-care workers.

The vaccination plan now coverspeople age 55 and older, along withlocal essential workers and people with chronic illnesses.

Peopleage 55 to 79can line up in their vehicles to get a ticket for awalk-upappointment at Gatineau's Palais des Congrs.

Officials expecteveryone who wants a shot to be able to get one byby Fte nationale on June 24.

People who qualify can make an appointment online or over the phone. Pharmacists there have started giving shotswith appointments through the province, not individual pharmacies.

Symptoms and testing

COVID-19can range from a cold-like illnessto a severe lung infection, with common symptoms including fever, a cough, vomiting and loss of taste or smell.Children tend to have an upset stomach and/or a rash.

WATCH | Woman who had COVID-19 participates in stem cell trial:

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

Mental healthcan also beaffected by the pandemic,andresources are available to help.

In eastern Ontario:

Anyone seeking a testshouldbook an appointment.

Ontariorecommends only getting testedif you have symptoms,if you've been told to by your health unit or the province, orif you fit certain other criteria.

People without symptomsbut who arepart of the province's targeted testing strategycan make an appointment at select pharmacies. This week that includes school staff and students.

Travellers who need a test have very few local options to pay for one.

Check with your area's health unit for clinic locations and hours. Some are offering pop-up or mobile clinics.

In western Quebec:

Tests are strongly recommended for people with symptoms and their contacts.

Outaouais residentscan make an appointment and check wait times online.

Call 1-877-644-4545 with questions, including if walk-in testing is available nearby.

WATCH | The national scope of the third wave:

First Nations, Inuit and Mtis:

First Nations, Inuit and Mtispeople, or someone travelling to work in a remote Indigenous community, are eligible for a test in Ontario.

Akwesasne has a COVID-19 test siteby appointment only and a curfew of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Anyone returning to the community on the Canadian side of the international border who's been farther than 160 kilometres away or visited Montreal for non-essential reasonsis asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

People inPikwakanagancan book a COVID-19 test by calling 613-625-1175.Anyone inTyendinagawho's interested in a test can call 613-967-3603 and in Kitigan Zibi, 819-449-5593.

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

For more information

• Ottawa Public Health.
• Your Eastern Ontario HealthUnit.
• TheOntario Ministry of Health(in several languages).
• TheCentre intgr de sant et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais.
• ThePublic Health Agency of Canada.