What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Friday, Feb. 5

Recent developments:

• Ottawa is reporting 54 new cases ofCOVID-19.
• Ontario businesses are feeling left out as Quebec prepares to loosenrestrictions.
• Quebec is enlisting private clinics to help clear the province's surgery backlog.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH)is reporting 54 newCOVID-19 cases Friday. For only the second time since September, there have been no COVID-19-related deaths reported in the city in a week.

Eighty per cent of long-term care residents in Ottawa have now received their second vaccine dose.

As Quebec prepares to loosen some COVID-19 restrictions onMonday, some business owners in the Ottawa area worry they'll miss out on desperately needed sales unless Ontariofollows suit.

Ontario's labour minister has said the premierwill announce details next week of the plan toreopenthe province's economy.

The Quebec government says it will ramp up its use of private clinicsto reduce the 140,000-strong waiting list for surgeries.

How many cases are there?

As of Thursday, 13,539 Ottawa residents havetested positive for COVID-19. There are 438known active cases, 12,678 resolved cases and 422deaths fromCOVID-19.

Public health officials have reportedmore than 24,100COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, includingmore than 22,600resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 122people have died ofCOVID-19,and 156people have died in western Quebec.

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?

Ontariosayspeople must only leave home when it's essential. People who leave home for non-essential reasons can be fined.

Travel within Ontario is not recommended.Residents who leave the provinceshould isolate for 14 days upon returning.

Private indoor gatherings are not allowed, whileoutdoorgatherings are capped at five people. It's strongly recommended people stick to their own householdsand socializing is not considered essential.

People who live alone, however, areallowed close contactwith one other household.

Some major Ottawa shelters aren't taking in new people because of COVID-19 outbreaks. People who need a place to sleep can call 311 or visit a shelter or respite centre to get one, and a ride if needed.

In-person shoppingis limited to essential businesses. Otherscan offerpickup and delivery.

WATCH |Ontario businesses feel left out as Quebec prepares to loosen restrictions:

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Meryann Jamil, who owns a spa in Ottawa, says shes worried about the effect Quebecs reopening will have on her business if shes forced to stay closed and clients choose to cross the river for services.

Most outdoor recreation venues remain open with restrictions, including the full Rideau Canal Skateway.

Students across eastern Ontariocan once again return to the classroom.

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Ontario'slockdown rules are in placeuntil at leastTuesday. Health officialsare weighing the signs the rules have slowed COVID-19's spreadwith the fact there are nowmore contagious variants of the coronavirus.

In western Quebec, residents are also being asked to stay home unless it's essential to leave and not see anyone they don't live with. An exception for people living alone allows them to exclusivelyvisit one other home.

Younger students areback inclassroomsand there's a plan for post-secondary students to start a slow return.

Like in Ontario, travel from one region of Quebec to another is discouraged.

Quebec's 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfewmeansfines of up to $6,000 for breaking the rules. It no longer applies to people experiencing homelessness.

Businesses, museums and hair salons can reopen Monday. That doesn't include western Quebec'srestaurants, gyms and theatres. Its health authority has said it would like to be more stable.

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.

This means it isimportantto take precautions now and in the months to comelikestaying home while symptomatic, keeping hands and frequently touched 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 should also wear masks outside their homes whenever possible.

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

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditions and/or weakened immune systems stay home as much as possible and get friends and family to help with errands.

The federal government is in the midst of tightening international travel rules.

Symptoms and vaccines

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 candevelop a rash.

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

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

COVID-19 vaccineshave started beinggiven to localhealth-care workersand long-term care residents.

About42,700doseshave been given out, includingabout 28,500 dosesin Ottawa and 8,400 in western Quebec

Pfizertemporarily slowing its vaccine production to expand its factorymeans some jurisdictions can't guarantee people will get the necessary second dose three weeks after the first. It may take four to six weeks.

There is now uncertainty about the Moderna vaccine supply.

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Ontario is giving its available doses to care home residents.

Its campaign is still expected toexpand to priority groups such as older adults and essential workers in March or April, with vaccines widely available inAugust.

Ottawa believes it can have nearly 700,000 residents vaccinated bythen, hitting a groove of nearly 11,000 doses a day byearly summer.

Quebec is alsogivinga single dose toas many people as possible, starting with people in care homes and health-care workers, then remote communities, then older adults and essential workers and finally the general public.

It has had to delayvaccinating people in private seniors' homes.

Quebecers shouldget their second dose within 90 days.

Where to get tested

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.

The KFL&A health unit sayspeople that have left southeastern Ontario or been in contact with someone who has should get a test as they track a coronavirusvariant.

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.

Ottawa has10 permanent test sites, with mobile siteswherever demand is particularly high.

Its site at the National Arts Centre will accept all Canadian health cards as of Monday to cover more Ottawa residents.

TheEastern Ontario Health Unithas sites in Alexandria, Casselman, Cornwall, Hawkesbury, Rockland and Winchester.

People canarrange a testin Picton over the phoneor Bancroft, Belleville and Trenton, where online booking is preferred.

TheLeeds, Grenville and Lanarkhealth unit has permanent sites in Almonte, Brockville,Kemptvilleand Smiths Falls and a mobileclinic.

Renfrew Countytest clinic locationsare posted weekly. Residentscanalso call their family doctor or 1-844-727-6404 with health questions.

Kingston's main test site is at theBeechgrove Complex,another is in Napanee.

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 Maniwaki,Fort-Coulonge and Petite-Nation.

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

First Nations, Inuit and Mtis:

Akwesasnehas had more than 160 residents test positive on the Canadian side of the borderand six deaths. More than 320 people have tested positive across the community and eight have died.

Itscurfew from 11 p.m. to5 a.m. is back and ithasa COVID-19 test siteby appointment only.

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.

Ithas released its vaccine plans.

Kitigan Zibilogged its first case in mid-December and has had a total of 20. TheMohawks of the Bay of Quintehad their only confirmed casein November.

WATCH | The Moderna supply and Indigenous vaccination plans:

Moderna delays wont impact Indigenous vaccination timeline, Ottawa says

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The federal government says it can still have most Indigenous Canadian adults vaccinated by early summer, despite recent Moderna vaccine supply delays. But even if doses are available, some Indigenous people remain reluctant to get a vaccine.

People inPikwakanagancan book a COVID-19 test by calling 613-625-2259.Anyone inTyendinagawho's interested in a test can call 613-967-3603.

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.

For more information

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