What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 26

Recent developments:

• The WHO has declared a new coronavirus variant of concern.
• Canada is limiting travel from some countries as a result.
• The Kingston area has tightened private indoor gathering rules.
• Ottawa reported 47more cases of COVID-19.

What's the latest?

The World Health Organization has declared the new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa as a variant of concern and named itOmicron.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced Friday Canada will limit travel from seven countries in southern Africa in response, along with some new testing andquarantine requirements.

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Canadian health expertssay residents should not be alarmedand it would take time to assess the potential impact of the variant, adding there's no evidence that existing COVID-19 vaccines wouldn't continue to be effective.

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health is lowering the indoor private gathering limit to 10 people and making hosts share guest names and contact information with the health unit upon request. That area has broken pandemic case and hospitalization records this month.

Ottawa Public Health reported 47 moreCOVID-19 cases Friday. Hastings Prince Edward Public Healthreported a COVID-19 death and a still-growing active case count.

How many cases are there?

As ofFriday,Ottawa has had 31,837confirmedcases ofCOVID-19.There are 318known active cases, while 30,902 cases are consideredresolved and 617people have died from the illness.

Public health officials have reported more than59,300COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 57,400 cases now resolved. Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 230people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 223.

Akwesasnehas had more than 1,100 residents test positive forCOVID-19and has reported14deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeghas had 34 cases and one death. Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory has had 24cases and one death.Pikwakanagan hasn't had any cases.

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:

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

The plan isto liftpublic health measures in stagesuntil March 2022, with the next step paused until at least mid-December as officials monitor some rising trends.

Private gathering limits are 25 people inside and 100 people outside.

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Health units can change rulesRenfrew Countyhas done that for isolation and the Kingston area for indoor gatherings,school symptoms and indoor sports.

The province'svaccine passportisrequired for people age 12 and up in many public places. It won't be required for younger kids now that they're eligible for a dose.People can show paper, PDF orQR codeproof.

Western Quebec

Ten people are allowed to gatherinside private residences and 20 people outdoors which increases to 50 if playing sports.There are nocapacity limits for Quebec venues with assigned seats andrestaurants.

Quebec Premier Franois Legaultsays the more people respect current gathering rules, the more likely it is they can be loosened for the holidays.

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

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.

Travel

Travellers must nowbe vaccinatedto board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada. Partially vaccinated travellers can showproof of a valid COVID-19 molecular test until Monday, when that rule ends.

People have to befully vaccinated,tested and pre-approvedto enterCanada. Rules for trips under 72 hours change on Tuesdayand the list of approved vaccines has expanded. Rules for younger kids also changenow that they're eligible for a vaccine.

• Kids 5-11 can now get their COVID-19 shots. What else changes?

The U.S.requiresall travellers land, air and waterto be fully vaccinated. Some people withmixeddoses will be allowedand it won't require a recent test.

The prime minister said in late Octoberhe's "very confident" countries around the world will acceptprovincial or territorial proof of vaccination.

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.

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.

• Did your young child get a flu shot recently? Their COVID-19 vaccine may have to wait

It's possible even younger children could have an approved vaccine early in 2022, according toCanada's chief public health officer.

Ontario and Quebec aregiving certain groups third doses.

There have been more than 3.6million COVID-19 first, second and third vaccine doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region,which has about 2.3 million residents.

Eastern Ontario

Ontario isvaccinating anyone born in 2016 and earlier.

Peoplecanlook for provincialappointments onlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

Local health units have some flexibility,so check their websitesfor details. Theyoffer doses on short notice ascampaigns look tofill gaps in vaccine coverage and cover expandedeligibility.

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

The province has recommended people under 24 get the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnatyvaccine because the ModernaSpikevax vaccine brings a mild risk of a rareheart condition.

Western Quebec

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

Clinics for newly eligible children will operate in schools and kids 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 about the process.

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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 pharmacies can now test 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 test.

Officials in some areassaythey'reseeing more people coming to its sites after having symptoms for several days and delaying getting tested, sometimes spreading COVID in the meantime.

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 are being offered in some places instead of a swab.

Rapid COVID-19 tests are available in all Quebec preschools and elementary schools.

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.