What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 9

Recent developments:

• Ottawa reported 32more cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
• The Outaouais has its first cases of omicron variant.
• Adapt holiday plans to meet Ottawa's rising COVID-19 risks, says Dr. Etches
• The Kingston area is changing symptom screening and mask rules.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported 32 moreCOVID-19 cases on Thursdayandnodeaths.

The health authority for the Outaouais has announced its first two confirmed cases of the omicron variant. Ottawa also announced its fifth case of the omicron variant, saying it is linked to travel like its others.

WATCH | Ottawans should think about changing holiday planswith rising COVID risk:

Choose ways to make gatherings safer this holiday season, OPH says

3 years ago

Duration 1:11

Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawas medical officer of health, says residents should consider the vaccination status of guests and keep masking and distancing when unvaccinated people are in attendance.

The medical officer of health for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addingtonis, as of Saturday, requiring everyone entering a business, staff included, to answer questions about COVID-19 symptoms.

Once inside, they have to be seated while eating or drinking andwear a mask while moving around. Dr. Piotr Oglaza said peopledoing neither has been a problem in its record-breaking late-autumn spike.

How many cases are there?

As of Thursday,Ottawa has had 32,507confirmedcases ofCOVID-19.

There are 451known active cases, while 31,438cases are consideredresolved and 618people have died from the illness.

Public health officials have reported more than 61,500COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 58,900 cases now resolved. Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 237people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 223.

Akwesasnehas had more than 1,200 residents test positive forCOVID-19and has reported14deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Tyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had 45 cases and one death.Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeghashad 44cases, one death and is in the midst ofan active outbreak.Pikwkanagn hasn't had any cases.

What are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

The province'svaccine passportisrequired for people age 12 and up in many public places. It won't be required for younger kids.People can prove their vaccine status with a paper document, aPDFfile or aQR code.

There are no capacity restrictionsfor most places that require proof of vaccination,norfor outdoor organized events.

Private gathering limits are25 people inside and 100 people outside.

The plan isto liftpublic health measures in stagesuntil March 2022, with the next step paused as officials monitor some rising trends.

Health officials say people should recommit to the fundamentals of getting vaccinated, testing and staying homewhen sick andlimitingsocial contacts.

• Ontario science table recommends weekly rapid tests in some schools

Local officials can change rules for example,Renfrew Countyhas done that for isolation, the Kingston and Belleville areas for school symptomsand the Kingston area for indoor gatheringsand businesses.

• We've launched a new pop-up bureau in Kingston and we want to hear your stories

Kingston's medical officer of health and Akwesasne's councilare bothasking residents to avoid in-persongatherings.

Western Quebec

Ten people are allowed to gatherinsidehomes and 20 people outdoors which increases to 50 if playing sports. The indoor gathering limit goes up to 20people on Dec. 23.

There are nocapacity limits for Quebec venues with assigned seats andrestaurants.

A vaccine passportis in place for most people age 13 and up in many publicspaces. It won't apply to younger kids. People can use an app or show paper proof.

Other groups in the region are also coming out with their own COVID-19 vaccine policies, including for staff and visitors.

What can I do?

Prevention

COVID-19primarily spreads through droplets thatcan hang in the air. People can be contagious without symptoms, even after getting a vaccine.

This means it isimportantto take precautionssuch asstaying home while sick and getting help with costs if needed keeping hands and surfaces clean and consideringdistancingfrom anyone you don't live with.

Masks, preferably medical or surgical ones, aremandatory in indoor public settingsin Ontarioand Quebecand recommended in crowded outdoor areas.

When and how long to self-isolatecan vary inQuebecandOntarioand by vaccination status.

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditionsgethelp with errands and have supplies in case they need to isolate.

Scientists are working to find out how easily the new omicron coronavirus variantspreads, itsseverity andthe performance of vaccines against it.

WATCH | Pfizer-BioNTech'sresearch into omicron:

Pfizer says 3 shots neutralize omicron variant in early findings

3 years ago

Duration 2:30

Pfizer-BioNTech have reported early findings that show three doses of their COVID-19 vaccine are more effective than two when it comes to neutralizing the omicron variant in lab settings. The World Health Organization cautioned against jumping to conclusions, saying the unvaccinated should get their first doses before worrying about third shots.

Travel

Travellers morethan 12 years and four months oldmust nowbe fully vaccinatedto board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada.

The U.S.requireseveryone crossing aland, air or water border to be fully vaccinated. People flying there will need proof of a negative COVID test within a dayof departure.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents no longer need proof of a test when returning fromtrips to the U.S.under 72 hours.

The hope is that other countries will acceptprovincial or territorial proof of vaccination.

People have to befully vaccinated and pre-approvedto enterCanada. Because of the omicron variant, air travellers from every country except the United States have to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival and isolate until they get results.

There are further travel restrictions from a number ofAfrican countries because ofomicron.

WATCH | A Q&A about where we are with omicron:

COVID-19: When could omicron become dominant in Canada?

3 years ago

Duration 6:56

Andrew Chang talks to infectious diseases specialists Dr. Susy Hota and Dr. Lisa Barrett about when the omicron variant may become dominant in Canada, whether it appears milder than delta and if people should change their holiday plans.

Vaccines

Vaccines curb thespreadof all variants of COVID-19 and go a long way toward avoiding deaths and hospitalizations,without offering total protection.

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada, with some age restrictions.

Health Canada hasapproved Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children as young asfive.Doses for kids age five to 11 will be given at least eight weeks apart in both local provinces.

• The Ottawa area's weekly COVID-19 vaccination checkup: Dec. 9

Ontario's next third shot expansion comes Monday morningforpeople in their 50s and 60s; Quebecexpanded it in early December and plans to lower its age in January.

There have been more than 3.8 million COVID-19 first, second and third vaccine doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region,which has about 2.3 million residents.

Eastern Ontario

Peopleborn in 2016 and earlier canlook for provincialappointments onlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

Local health units have some flexibility,so check their websitesfor details. Many offer child-only clinics anddoses on short notice ascampaigns look tofill gaps in vaccine coverage and cover expandedeligibility.

Pharmacies and some family doctorsoffer vaccines through their own booking systems.

Western Quebec

Anyone who is fiveand oldercan get an appointmentor visitapermanent ormobile walk-in clinic.

Clinics for childrenare in schools andkids will need written consent from a parent to be vaccinated there.

Siblings can be booked together in a single time slotand parents can check a box to signal if their child is nervous.

Symptoms and testing

COVID-19can range from a cold-like illnessto a severe lung infection, with common symptoms including fever, a cough,headache, vomitingand loss of taste or smell.

"Long-haul" symptoms can last for months.

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

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

In eastern Ontario:

Ontariosays togettested by making an appointmentat a clinic if you fit certain criteria. Check with yourhealth unit for clinic locations and hours.

Select pharmaciestest people with symptoms, along with certain people without symptoms.

Rapid and take-home testsare available in some places,including pharmacies andsome child-care settings when risk is high. A positive test will trigger a follow-up.

Travellers who need a testhavelocal options to pay for one.

In western Quebec:

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

People can make an appointment or see if they're near awalk-in optiononline. They can also call 1-877-644-4545 with questions during hours the line is running.

Gargle tests areoffered in some places instead of a swab.

Rapid COVID-19 tests are available in all Quebec daycares,preschools and elementary schools. The province has asked the federal government for millions more tests and hopes they can eventually be given out for free.

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 COVID-19 test andvaccine clinics, with information online or at613-575-2341.

People in Kitigan ZibiAnishinabeg can call the health centre at 819-449-5593 for a test or vaccine; email is another option for vaccine booking.

Tests are available inPikwkanagnby calling613-625-1175 and vaccines (including third doses)at 613-625-2259 extension 225 or by email.

Anyone inTyendinagawho's interested in a test can call 613-967-3603 and should watch the website fordedicated vaccine clinics.

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.