What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Friday, April 2

Recent developments:

• Vaccine appointments are now available for Ottawa residents aged 70 and older.
• Ontario is goinginto another shutdownthat starts Saturday at12:01 a.m.
• Make sure you know the latest rules under the new restrictions.
• Today is alsothe first full day oftighterrestrictions in the Outaouais,particularly in the Gatineau area.
• Ottawa reported175 new cases of COVID-19 Friday.

What's the latest?

The City of Ottawa has opened up anumber of new COVID-19 vaccine appointmentsfor residents aged 70 and older following the delivery of a batchof vaccines.

Residents born in 1951 or earlier can book appointments online. Appointments are available startingApr. 8 until Apr.21 at one of four immunization clinics.

Premier Doug Fordhas announcedthat he's imposing aprovincewide"emergency brake"due to a surge in COVID-19case numbers and hospitalizations across the province.

The new health measures come into effect on Saturday.

Curious what this new shutdown means for Ottawa? Make sure you know what you can and cannot do for the next four weeks.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has also asked residents not to cross the river into Gatineau, Que., except for essential travel.

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Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawas medical officer of health, and Lindy Samson, chief of staff at CHEO, say keeping schools open is vital for the mental health of children and youth, and asked residents to follow public health guidelines to make in-person learning safer.

• Hospitals facing 'fragile situation' as COVID cases climb
• OPH, CHEO say schools must stay open

The Outaouaishasmoved to Quebec's red zone rules,and there are even stronger rules for Gatineauand MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais, including school closures and a curfew that now begins earlier at 8 p.m.

How many cases are there?

As of Thursday, 17.585 Ottawa residents havetested positive for COVID-19. There are 1,358known active cases, 15,761 resolved cases and466 deaths.

Public health officials have reported more than32,000COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 28,600resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 147people have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 174.

Akwesasnehas had more than 270 residents test positive on the Canadian side of the border and sevendeaths. It'shad more than 550 cases when its southern section is added.

Kitigan Zibihas had21confirmed cases andTyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had nine, 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:

A top science advisorsaysOntario's COVID-19 spread is completely out of control.

Ottawa Public Health said Thursday its contact tracers can't keep up with the pace of spread, its test sites don't have much more capacity and there's pressure on the health-care system.

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Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawas medical officer of health, says new COVID-19 infections are outpacing the rate of vaccinations, leading to a need for stronger restrictions.

Ontario's expected shutdownSaturday would include rules similar (but not identical to)grey-lockdown rules, according to sources.

That would close gymsand personal care services and ban indoor dining at restaurants. Non-essential businesses would stay open at 25 per cent capacity.

Under current grey rules, people can only sit on a patio with people they live with.

Indoor gatherings are not allowed in grey except for people who live together and the usual exception for people who live alone. Outdoor gatherings can have a maximum of 10 distanced people and religious services can be bigger if space allows.

Schools would not be immediately affected, although some boards have told families to be ready in case they have to close classrooms again and return to full remote learning.

Local health unitscan also set their own rules, like what Kingston's is doing around gatherings, Prince Edward County's is doing around traveland RenfrewCounty's is doing around dining.

The new rules may replace some or all of those local rules. This section will be updated.

Western Quebec

Quebec is now in its third wave. PremierFranois Legaultsaid the situation is critical in Gatineauand asked people there to only leave home when it's essential.

Schools, gyms, theatres, personal care services and non-essential businesses close from tonightat 8 p.m. until Monday, April 12 at 5 a.m. in Gatineau and MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais, which almost entirely surrounds the city.

Private gatherings are banned, except for a person who lives alone to see one other household. The start of the curfew moves up to 8 p.m.

Distanced outdoor exercise is allowed in groups up to eight people. Places of worship can have a maximum of 25 people.

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province will lock down for 28 days as of Saturday to try to protect hospital emergency wards from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases.

The restof the Outaouais is moving to red zone rules, which closes restaurant dining rooms but keeps schools, gyms, theatres, personal care services and non-essential businesses open with restrictions.

The start of the curfew remains at 9:30 p.m.

Weddings and funerals can have a maximum of 25 people, while other religious services can go up to 250 distanced people.

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Dr. Brigitte Pinard, director of public health with CISSSO, says the level of COVID-19 infections in the region is higher than at any other time during the pandemic, with more than 50 per cent of cases being suspected variants of the virus.

People across the Ottawa-Gatineau areaare 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 reasons.

Distancing and isolating

The novel coronavirus primarily spreads through droplets when an infected person speaks, coughs, sneezes, or breathesonto someone or something. These dropletscan hang in the air.

People can be contagious without symptoms, even after getting a vaccine. New coronavirus variants can be more contagious and are spreading quicklyin someplaces.

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

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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.

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditions and/or weakened immune systems stay home as much as possible and gethelp 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.

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeenapprovedin Canada.

• Nearly 15% of adult Canadians have received one dose of a vaccine

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

About 312,000doseshave been given outin the wider regionsince mid-December, including about 130,000 doses toOttawa residentsand about45,000 in western Quebec.

• The Ottawa area's weekly COVID-19 vaccine checkup: April 1

Ontario's first doses of Phase 1 generally went to care home residents and health-care workers.

The provincewidecampaign has expandedto include more priority groups such as all people over age 75, and people 70 and older in certain regions. Peoplecanbook appointments online or over the phone.

Phase 2 should includepeople with underlying health conditions in April, followed bypeoplewho can't work from homeor are 60 and older in June.

Phase 3, slated to begin in July, will involve vaccinating anyone older than 16.

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

Some Ottawans in certain neighbourhoods can check their eligibility online andcall the city at 613-691-5505 for an appointment. So can Indigenous people over age 16.

People whoare above or turningage55 can contactparticipating pharmacies for a vaccine appointmentas part of a pilot project.

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

The vaccination plan now coverspeople age 65and olderatwestern Quebecclinics. That will befollowed byessential workers and finally the general public.

Officials expect everyone over the age of 65 to be vaccinated by mid-April and everyone 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 will alsobe giving shotsand people can book their appointments now inGrenville-sur-la-Rouge.

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.

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If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

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

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Quebec Premier Franois Legault announced a return to strict restrictions for several cities in the province including Gatineau, which will close non-essential businesses and schools and return to an 8 p.m. curfew.

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.

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 in Gatineauat 135 blvd. Saint-Raymond or 617 ave.Buckingham. They cancheck thewait timefor the Saint-Raymond site.

There arerecurring clinics by appointmentin communities such as Maniwakiand Petite-Nation.

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

First Nations, Inuit and Mtis:

Akwesasne has a COVID-19 test siteby appointment only and a curfew of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. It's closed to non-essential visits until April 11.

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.