What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Thursday, May 27

Recent developments:

• Ottawa is reporting 45 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths.
• Ontario's premier is asking for a consensus on reopening schools.
• Quebecers can now get their second AstraZeneca dose eight weeks after their first.
• We compare Ontario and Quebec's upcoming reopening plans.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has confirmed another 45 cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has takenthe unusual step of publicly soliciting advice from 55 individuals and organizations on how Ontario could go about safely reopening schools, giving them a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday to respond.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dub says the second shot of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine can now be administered within eight weeks of the first one, meaning anyone who received their first dose prior to April 3 can get the second dose as early as this weekend.

The wider Ottawa-Gatineau region takes some big steps toward reopening between now and the end of next week. We've compared the approaches in both provinces.

How many cases are there?

The region is coming down froma record-breaking peak of the pandemic'sthird wave, onethat has includedmore dangerous coronavirus variants.

As of Thursday, 26,799Ottawa residents have tested positive for COVID-19.There are 743known active cases, 25,493 resolved cases and 563deaths.

Public health officials have reported more than48,600 COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 46,500resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 185people have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 214.

Akwesasnehas had more than 690residents test positive, with four known active cases,and 10 deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Kitigan Zibihas had 34 cases.Tyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had 11, with one death.Pikwakanaganhasn't had any.

The transfer of COVID-19 patients from other regions to Ottawa hospitals continues, including at least one from Manitoba. As of Tuesday,there were 16COVID-19 patients from other communities in Ottawa ICUs.

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 can I do?

Eastern Ontario:

Ontario is under a stay-at-home orderuntil at least Wednesday. Itsreopening plan leans on rates of spread and vaccination;the province plans to take the next step in mid-June.

• Major exhibitions on hold as museums, galleries await reopening

Many closed outdoor recreationvenues can now reopenandOntario'soutdoor distanced gathering limit has now risento five people, including people from different households.

Most non-essential businesses can only offer curbside pickup. Access to malls is restrictedand big-box stores can only sell essential items.

Gymsand personal care services areclosed, whilerestaurants are only available for takeout and delivery.

Ontario hasmovedto online learning. Daycares remain openandsummer camps should eventually open as well.

Police checkpointsbetween Ontario and Quebecare not running 24/7.Officers in Ontariohave the power to stop and question people if they believe they'vegathered illegally.

Local health units and communitiescan also set their own rules, as Ottawais doing around playgroundsand the Belleville area is doing for the agriculture industry.

Western Quebec

Western Quebec isunder red zone rules.

It's also planning to gradually reopen, starting with the curfew lifting and outdoor gatherings and dining returning tomorrowthen a move to the orange zone on Monday.

High schools, gyms, theatres, personal care services and non-essential businessescan now openwith restrictions.

The curfew is currently inplace from 9:30 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Private gatherings remain banned, except for a person who lives alone seeing one other household.

Small religious services are allowed and people can go totheatres. Older secondary school students will be going to classrooms every second day.Distanced outdoor exercise is allowed in groups up to eight people.

People can't travel to yellow or green zones or risk a fine.

COVID-19 vaccine supply could shorten time between doses: NACI chair

3 years ago

Duration 1:54

The chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization says Canada now has enough supply of COVID-19 vaccines to give second doses ahead of the 16-week interval it recommended earlier. Experts say getting that second dose earlier may be important to protect against new variants.

Distancing and isolating

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 are now established.

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.

• When will we know the pandemic is over?
• It's not time to ditch your mask just yet, experts say

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.

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.

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 lengthvaries inQuebecandOntario.

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada.

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

WATCH | The ideathat second doses can come earlier:

Rollout of early 2nd AstraZeneca doses in Ontario explained

3 years ago

Duration 7:08

The CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association explains who is eligible for an early second dose of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine and what happens ifyou don't get your shot in this limited rollout.

More than 1,200,000 doseshave been given outin the Ottawa-Gatineau regionsince mid-December, including nearly 550,000 doses toOttawa residentsand more than245,000 in western Quebec.

• This week's vaccine checkup for the Ottawa-Gatineau area

Eastern Ontario

Ontario is now vaccinating anyone age12 or older.Peoplecanlook forprovincial appointments opening uponlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

Pharmacies continue to offer vaccines through their own booking systems as supply allows.

The first people who gotan AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine March 10 to 19 can now book a second dose. There's a list of locations offering them in the Kingston area.

The province's goal is a second AstraZeneca dose 12 weeks after the first, with more details to come on other recipients.

WATCH| Second AstraZeneca doses in Ontario explained:

Health officials continue to tell people who got a first dose before a second dose was automatically bookedthey won't be forgotten.

Local health units haveflexibilityin the larger framework, including around booking,so check their websitesfor details. Some offer standby lists for first doses.

Western Quebec

Quebec is now vaccinating anyone 12 and older.

People who qualify can make an appointment online or over the phone. There are walk-in clinics in Buckingham, Hull and Wakefield.

The province expects to have given a first dose to75 per cent of adults by June 15and is looking at 75 per cent of people age 12 and up getting their second dose by the end of August.

Its goal is second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine eight weeks after the first. People may be able to get an earlier second dose appointment for other types of vaccines starting June 7.

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.

• Federal COVID Alert app caught 400 cases of COVID-19 in April

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.

People without symptomsbut who arepart of the province's targeted testing strategycan make an appointment at select pharmacies. Shoppers Drug Mart stores can now offer rapid tests.

Travellers who need a test have very few local 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.

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 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.

Tyendinaga's council is asking people not totravel there to camp or fish.

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.