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

Recent developments:

• Ottawa is reporting 74 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and one death.
• That city is nowinthe red zone.
• Several hospitals in thearea are at or over capacity.
• Ontarians born in 1946 and earliercan make vaccine appointments next week.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) recorded 74 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and one death.The capital's largest shelter outbreak is over and OPHhas passed its target ofvaccinating75 per cent ofretirement home residents.

Ottawa movesinto the red zone on Ontario's pandemic scale today,limiting the size of gatherings and the number of people allowed inside restaurants and gyms.

Several hospitals in the Ottawa area are at or over fullcapacity, but not because of COVID-19 patientsmany people who don't have the illness are delaying going to hospital.

Ontario residents born in or before 1946can make COVID-19 vaccine appointments starting Monday. Also starting Monday, anyone in the Kingston area above age 60 can contact participating pharmacies for a vaccine.

How many cases are there?

As of Friday, 15,914 Ottawa residents havetested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. There are currently 668known active cases, 14,795resolved cases and451 deaths.

Public health officials have reported more than28,300COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than26,300resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 134people have died ofCOVID-19 and 168people have died in western Quebec.

Akwesasnehas had more than 250 residents test positive on the Canadian side of the border,eight of them active cases, and sevendeaths. It's had more than 500 cases combined with its southern section.

Kitigan Zibihas had22confirmed cases andTyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had eight, 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?

The province's science advisors are among the experts sayingOntario is in its 3rd wave of the pandemic.

Eastern Ontario now ranges from red to greenunder the province's colour-coded pandemic scale.

Restaurants, gyms, personal care servicesand non-essential businesses are open across theregion.

Outside red zones, social gatherings can have up to 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors. Organized events can be larger.

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With Ottawa in the red zone, allgatherings are capped at five people inside and 25 outside.

Indoor dining is limited to 10people at a time. Theatres areclosed andteam sports games or scrimmages are not allowed.

Going red meansonly leavinghome for essential reasons and not having inside visitors.

Ottawa Public Health said Thursday itsspread of COVID-19 is getting out of control.

Local health unitscan also set their own rules, like what Kingston's is doing around gatheringsand Lanark County's is doing for sports.

Western Quebec'sgyms and restaurants can openunder its orange zone rules, as cannon-essential businesses.

Outdoor gatherings of up to eight peopleareallowed. The region'scurfew hoursare 9:30 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Grenville-sur-la-Rouge and some of the surroundingarearemains in red.

Next week local high schoolers can return to in-class learning full time and sports rules will be relaxed.

People in all these areas are asked to only have close contact with people they live with, be masked and distanced for all other in-person contact and only travel for essential reasons, especially between differently coloured zones.

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.

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.

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.

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeenapprovedin Canada.

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 195,000doseshave been given out in the wider regionsince mid-December, including more than 88,000 dosesin Ottawa and about 24,000 in western Quebec.

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

The provincewidecampaign has expanded further into Phase 1to include more priority groups such as all people over age 80. On Monday, it's anyone above 75. Peoplecanbook appointments online or over the phone.

Local health units have some flexibilityin the larger framework,so check their websites as they're asking people to keep their phone lines clear for details.

People whoare above age60 to 64 or will be turning 60 or 65 this yearin the Kingston areacan contactone of nearly 50 pharmacies for a vaccine appointmentas part of a pilot project.It's anyone above 60 as of Monday.

Phase 2 should includepeople with underlying health conditions in April, thenpeoplewho can't work from homeand down in age to60in June. Phase 3 in July will have vaccines for everybody over age 16.

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

The vaccination plan has moved to people age 65and olderatsix western Quebecclinics, thenessential 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 nationaleJune 24.

People who qualify can make an appointment online or over the phone. Pharmacists there will alsobe giving shots.

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.

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

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

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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.

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 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.