What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Friday, July 23

Recent developments:

• Ottawa reportssevenmoreCOVID-19 casesFridayand no new deaths.
• Permanent residents are in limbo, waiting to immigrate to Canada during the pandemic.
• Pet owners scramble for animal care as vets face backlogs.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported seven new cases, and no new deaths on Friday. Hospitals continue to have zero patients with COVID-19,but some key indicators are on the rise.

There is a backlog of some 23,000 aspiring immigrants with expired or soon-to-be-expired documents waiting to enter Canada during the pandemic. Here are some of their stories.

The influx of pandemic pets and catching up from a lockdown closurehas created a"perfect storm" of backlogs at veterinaryclinics, including emergency animal hospitals, according to one Ottawa vet.

WATCH | Border closures preventcouple from moving to Canada, and their documents expired in June:

Applicants for permanent residency describe stress of waiting to enter Canada

3 years ago

Duration 1:14

Sophie and Carlos Ballesteros got ready to make a move to Canada months ago, lining up jobs and bank accounts in Halifax. But border closures prevented the couple from moving and their confirmation documents expired in June.

How many cases are there?

As of Thursday,27,761 Ottawa residents havetested positive for COVID-19.There are 34 known active cases, 27,134 cases consideredresolved, and 593cases where people have died.

Public health officials have reported more than 50,300 COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 49,200 resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 197 people have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 215.

Akwesasnehas had nearly 700residents test positive and 10 deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

• How one Indigenous community navigated COVID-19 while crossing borders

Kitigan Zibi has had 34 cases and one death. Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory has had 11, with one death. Pikwakanagan hasn't had any.

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

What are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

Ontario is inStep 3 of its reopening plan.

The latest step allows for indoor dining, with capacity limits based on everyone being able to keep an acceptable distance.

Gyms,movie theatres and museumsare able to reach acapacity of 50 per cent inside.

Larger general gathering limits have risen to 25 people inside and 100 people outside. Those limits are even higher for organized events,leading to the resumption of summer festivals and professional sports.

A detailed plan for the next school year is in the works, according to the education minister.

Western Quebec

Western Quebec is now undergreen zone restrictions, the lowest on the province'sfour-colour scale. Its distancing length is now one metre.

Ten people are allowed to gatherinside private residences and 20 people outdoors which increases to 50 if playing sports.Organized games are permitted outdoors again and gyms are open.

People can eat both indoors and outdoors at restaurants and bars.

Personal care services and non-essential businesses canopen. As many as 3,500 people can gather in a large theatre or arena and atoutdoor festivals.

What can I do?

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 areestablished.

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.

Vaccines curb thespreadof all types of the coronavirus.

Masks, preferably ones that fit snugly and havethree layers, aremandatory in indoor public settingsin Ontarioand Quebecand recommended in crowded outdoor areas.

There'sfederal guidance for what vaccinated people can do in different situations.

Fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residentscan nowskip the 14-day quarantine. Peoplehaveto show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter Canada by land without a fine.

The federal government has announced fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents living there would be able to visit Canada without having to quarantine starting Aug. 9, while tourists from all other countries would be allowed as of Sept. 7.

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditionsgethelp with errands.

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

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada. Three are in use, with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the only one approved for children aged 12 to 17.

Canada's task force sayspeople can wait up to 16 weeks between doses. There are factors pushing provinces to drastically speed up that timeline, including supply and the more infectious delta variant.

That same task force says it's safe and effective to mix first and second doses.

There is evidence giving a second dose of a Pfizeror Moderna vaccine offers better protection for people who got a first AstraZeneca-Oxford shot. Both Ontario and Quebecare giving people who got a first AstraZeneca dose the option to get a second of the same kind.

More than 2.8million doseshave been given outin the Ottawa-Gatineau regionsince mid-December, includingmore than 1.36 millionin Ottawa and more than450,000 in western Quebec.

Eastern Ontario

Ontario isvaccinating anyone age12 or older.

Peoplecanlook for provincialappointments opening uponlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900. Pharmacies continue to offer vaccines through their own booking systems, as do some family doctors.

Local health units haveflexibilityin the larger framework, including around booking,so check their websitesfor details. They offer standby lists for doses on short noticeand recently, morewalk-inoptions.

Campaigns are shifting to target those who are eligible to get their a second shot sooner or who haven't yet got their first. Some mass clinicshave closed.

Vaccine bookings depend on the supply being sent to health units, which generally aren't reporting the supply problems of previous months.

Western Quebec

Quebec isvaccinating anyone 12 and older. Its goal is to provide second doses four weeks after the first.

People who qualify can make an appointment online or over the phoneor visit one of the province'spermanent and mobile walk-in clinics.

People may have to show proof of being fully vaccinatedtoaccess certain services if there is an autumn surge of cases.

Symptoms and testing

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

Children tend to have an upset stomach and/or a rash.

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 testshouldmake an appointment. Check with yourhealth unit for clinic locations and hours.

Ontariorecommends only getting testedif you fit certain criteria, such as having symptoms, exposure or a certain job.

Staff, caregivers and visitors who have been fully-immunizedand show no symptoms of the coronavirusno longer need to be tested before entering a long-term care facility.

People without symptomsbut who arepart of the province's targeted testing strategycan make an appointment at select pharmacies. Rapid testsare available in some places.

Travellers who need a testhave a few morelocal options to pay for one.

In western Quebec:

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

People can make an appointment and check wait times online. Some walk-in testing is available.

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

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 vaccine clinics, with information online or at613-575-2341.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.

The last day for Ottawa's Indigenous vaccination clinic is July 29.

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.