What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 7

Recent developments:

• Ottawa and the Outaouais broke several pandemic records Wednesday.
• Ontario will impose a stay-at-home order and close non-essential retail.
• Quebec is introducing walk-in vaccinesites.

What's the latest?

Ottawa is reporting 196 more COVID-19 cases Wednesday and has tied or surpassed a number of records, including hospitalizations.

The Outaouais reported 178 more COVID-19 cases, setting a daily record for the fifth time in two weeks.

Ontariowill bring back a stay-at-home order andclose non-essential retail stores for all but curbside pickup starting tomorrow.

WATCH LIVE | Ontario's announcement at 2:30 p.m. ET:

Quebec tightens COVID-19 restrictions in more areas

4 years ago

Duration 2:03

Quebec is increasing restrictions in red and orange zones as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, including decreasing time some secondary students will learn in person and closing some gyms.

Starting Thursday, Quebec residents age 55 and overcan get the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine without an appointment.

How many cases are there?

As of Wednesday, 18,632 Ottawa residents havetested positive for COVID-19. There are 1,926known active cases, 16,236resolved cases and470deaths.

Public health officials have reported more than34,000COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 30,400resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 148people have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 175.

Akwesasnehas had more than 270 residents test positive on the Canadian side of the border and sevendeaths. It'shad more than 560 cases when its southern section is added.

Kitigan Zibihas had21confirmed cases andTyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had 10, 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?

Eastern Ontario:

A top science advisorsaysOntario's COVID-19 spread is out of control, while Ottawa Public Health has said its contact tracers can't keep up with the paceand its test sites lack capacity.

Those sorts of factors explain why Ontario is now in a provincewide shutdownuntil at least early May and that stay-at-home order is coming.

Indoor gatherings are not allowed, except for people who live together and the usual exception for thosewho live alone. Outdoor gatherings can have a maximum of fivedistanced people.Religious events have different rules.

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

Non-essential businesses can open at 25 per cent capacity until tomorrow. Essential ones can go to50 per cent under current rules. Schools are not being forced to close.

Virus variants spread quickly after too-short winter lockdown, scientist says

4 years ago

Duration 1:18

Doug Manuel, senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, says a longer shutdown over the winter months would have slowed the spread of virus variants, which are now predominant among Ottawas confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Local health unitscan also set their own rules, like what Prince Edward County's is doing around travel.

Ottawa's medical officer of health is one of the officials asking the province for stronger rules, including a stay-at-home order similar to early winter, paid sick leave, travel restrictions within Ontario and more online learning in places where school outbreaks are a problem.

Western Quebec

Quebec is now in its third wave. PremierFranois Legaultsaid the situation is critical in Gatineauand is asking people there to only leave home when it's essential.

Schools, gyms, theatres, personal care services and non-essential businesses are closed until Mondayat 5 a.m. in Gatineau and in the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais, which almost entirely surrounds the city.

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

Distanced outdoor exercise is allowed in groups up to eight people. Places of worship can have a maximum of 25 people.

The curfew there now starts at 8 p.m.

WATCH | This week's rule changes in Quebec:

COVID-19: How vulnerable are kids to variants?

4 years ago

Duration 7:58

Two infectious disease specialists discuss whether children are more vulnerable to COVID-19 variants and whether teachers should be given higher priority when it comes to vaccinations.

The restof the Outaouais is underred-zone rules, which closes restaurant dining rooms and, as of tomorrow, gyms, but keeps schools,theatres, personal care services and non-essential businesses open with restrictions.

• ANALYSIS |Quebec signals willingness to play by new rules set by COVID variants

The start of the curfew in this area remains at 9:30 p.m.

People across the Ottawa-Gatineau areaare asked to only have close contact with people they live with, be masked and distanced for all other in-person contact and only leave their immediate area for essential reasons.

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 quickly.

This means it isimportantto take precautions now and in the futurelikestaying home while sick and getting help with costs if needed as well as keeping hands and surfaces clean and maintaining distance from anyone you don't live with, even with a mask on.

WATCH | Scientist sayslonger winter shutdown would have slowedvariants:

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.

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.

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 havebeenapprovedin Canada.

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

About 387,000doseshave been given outin the Ottawa-Gatineau regionsince mid-December, including about 168,000 doses toOttawa residentsand about 63,000 in western Quebec.

Eastern Ontario

Ontario's first doses of Phase 1 generally went to care home residents and health-care workers.

All health units in eastern Ontario except Renfrew County are now vaccinating people age 60 and older. Peoplecanbook appointments online or over the phone.

Phase 2 includespeople with underlying health conditions starting this month, followed byessential workerswho can't work from homein May.

Phase 3, slated to begin in July, will involve vaccinating anyone older than 16.

• 2nd vaccine doseshould be offered after all eligible populations get their 1st: NACI
• Study suggests vaccines may improve symptoms for some COVID-19 long-haulers

Local health units have some flexibilityin the larger framework,so check their websitesfor details.

Some Ottawans in certain neighbourhoods can check their eligibility online andcall the city at 613-691-5505 for an appointment. So can Indigenous people over age 16.

People whoare above or turningage55 can contactparticipating pharmacies for a vaccine appointmentas part of a pilot project.

Western Quebec

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

The vaccination plan now coverspeople age 60and olderatwestern Quebecclinics. That moves to age 55 and over tomorrow.

That will befollowed by local essential workers and people with chronic illness, and finally the general public.

Officials expecteveryone who wants a shot to be able to get one byby Fte nationale on June 24.

People who qualify can make an appointment online or over the phone. Pharmacists there will alsobe giving shotsand people can book their appointments now inGrenville-sur-la-Rouge.

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.

WATCH | A Q&A on kids and coronavirus variants:

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.

Ottawa's drive-thru test siteat RCGT Park on Coventry Road reopenstoday. It had been at the National Arts Centre during the colder months.

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. It's closed to non-essential visits until Sunday

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.

• COVID-19 in Indigenous communities: What you need to know this week

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 HealthUnit.
• TheOntario Ministry of Health(in several languages).
• TheCentre intgr de sant et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais.
• ThePublic Health Agency of Canada.