What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 9

Recent developments:

• Ontario is giving outfree COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at somestores.
• Ottawa's hospitalizations and wastewater levels continue to decline.
• There's frustrationCOVID-19 rules are still sidelining Ontario school sports.
• A court denies an injunction forunvaccinated Quebec caregivers.

The Ontario government is distributing a box of free COVID-19 rapid antigen testsper household per visit at grocery stores, pharmacies and other settings starting today. Participating locations are listed on theprovince's website.

Ottawa's COVID-19 hospitalizations have been trending down for nearly two weeks, while its average coronavirus wastewater level has been dropping since late last week.

The capital reported three more deaths of residents with COVID-19 on Wednesday. Hastings Prince Edward Public Health reported one more death.

Many Ontario school sports teams are still stuck on the sidelines due to COVID-19 restrictions and critics say that hurts low-income and marginalized student athletes the most.

A Quebec court has rebuffed unvaccinated caregivers who were hoping to obtain an injunction allowing them to enter nursing homes without showing proof of vaccination.

Numbers to watch

Testing can't meetdemand during the Omicron wave, meaning many people with COVID-19won'tbe reflected in the case count. Hospitalizations and wastewater monitoringcan help fill in some of the grey areas.

The average measurement of coronavirus in Ottawa'swastewateris declining after a plateau. The Brockville and Kemptville sites have differing trends. Other wastewater charts haven't been updated in about a week.

There are48Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for treatment of active COVID-19 as of Wednesday'sOttawa Public Health (OPH)report. Sevenof these patients are in anICU. Both numbers are dropping.

This count alsodoesn't tell the entire hospital picture: as of Monday, there were 139hospital patients with COVIDin Ottawa split between those needing care for COVID and those in hospital for other reasons who happen to have COVID. This number has also been dropping.

As of Wednesday,Ottawa has had59,960confirmedcases ofCOVID-19. There are1,635known active cases a number thatmay actually be muchhigher and 723residentshave died from the illness.

Outside of Ottawa, the wider region has about 120COVID-19 hospitalizations,withabout 30of them still needing intensive care. Both numbers have been slowly droppinganddon't include Hastings Prince EdwardPublic Health, whichhas instituted a different way of reporting.

In eastern Ontario outside of Ottawa, 338people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 273.

What are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

The province's private gathering limitsare 10 people inside and 25 outside. Indoor diningisallowed at 50 per cent capacity.

Gyms, movie theatres, museums, retail businesses and many other establishments can open at 50 per cent capacity. Some surgeries put on pause lastmonthcan resume.

The province plans to roll back its COVID-19 rules in stages, with more capacity changesslated for Feb. 21.

Almost all restrictions in Quebec to be lifted by March 14, Legault says

3 years ago

Duration 2:02

Calling it a 'calculated risk to learn to live with the virus,' Quebec Premier Franois Legault outlined a series of dates to lift COVID-19 restrictions, with almost all being eliminated by mid-March.

The province'svaccine passportisrequired formany public places for people above12 years and 12 weeks old. People can prove they've had at least two vaccine doses witha paper or digital document thathasa QR code.

Western Quebec

Dining rooms are open at half capacity, while indoor gatherings involving more than one household bubble can happen again. Theatres and places of worship can reopen with capacity limits.

Private gathering limitschange Saturday, thengyms, spas and more sports can return on Monday. There are plans to change rulesin stages until March 14.

WATCH | What Quebec plans to do over the next five weeks:

Omicron breakthrough infection could boost immunity

3 years ago

Duration 2:04

New research suggests that getting infected with the Omicron variant after being fully vaccinated could help boost immunity, but unvaccinated people dont appear to get the same benefit.

A vaccine passportis in place for most people age 13 and up in many publicspaces. People can use an app or show paper proof they have at least two doses.

Quebec'shealth minister said last monththat people willeventually have to have three dosesfor the passport.

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.

Evidence suggests the dominant Omicron variant is more contagious than other types, but generally less deadly for vaccinated people without underlying conditions.

Though this wave seems to have peaked, thislevel of spread puts vulnerable peopleat risk and is making staffing a challenge in many sectors, delaying manymedical proceduresand increasing the workload ofstaff who aren't sick or isolating.

Health officials say people should recommit to the fundamentals of getting allvaccine doses as they're eligible for andstaying homewhen sick.

WATCH | Vaccinated people's response to an Omicron infection:

Masks, preferably medicalones, aremandatory in indoor public settingsin Ontarioand in Quebec for peopleage 10 and up. They're generallyrecommended in crowded outdoor areas.

Ontarioand Quebec allow some people to self-isolate for just five days under certain circumstances.

• Where did things go wrong with Canada's COVID Alert app?

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditionsgethelp with errands and have supplies in case they need to isolate.

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

Travel

Travellers olderthan 12 years and four months mustbe fully vaccinatedto board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada.

The federal government is officially advising against non-essential international travel.

People have to befully vaccinated,pre-approved, asymptomaticand test negativeto enterCanada.

There are limited exceptions.

The U.S.requiresall adults crossing aland, air or water border to be fully vaccinated. People flying there will need proof of a negative COVID-19 test within a dayof departure.

The hope is that other countries 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, with some age restrictions.

Both local provinces generally recommend doses for kids age five to 11 be given at least eight weeks apartfor the best possible protection.Some health authoritiessay parents can request a shorter interval.

Guidance varies on when, not if, people should get a third dose after contracting COVID-19. Experts doagree people shouldn't get it until they're feeling recovered.

There have been more thanfive million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region,which has about 2.3 million residents.

Eastern Ontario

Eligible people canlook for provincialappointments onlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

Local health units have some flexibility,so check their websitesfor details. Many offer child-only clinicsand limited walk-ins.

Everyone 18 and older in Ontario canbook thirdshotsonce 84 days have passed since their second dose.Fourth doses are being offered to select groups after the same 84-day wait.

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

Western Quebec

Those who are eligible can get an appointmentor visitapermanent ormobile walk-in clinic.

All adults areeligible for a third dose; the general recommendation between second and third is three months.

Symptoms, treatmentand 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.

Health Canada has approved Pfizer's COVID-19prescription treatment Paxlovid.Ontario andQuebec are using it at first on adultsat risk of severe COVID-19 problems.

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

In eastern Ontario:

Onlyhigh-risk people with symptoms or who are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 can get a laboratory-checkedPCR test due to Omicron demand.

Qualified people can check with their health unit for clinic locations and hours. Other people with symptoms should assume they have COVID-19 and isolate.

Onlystudents and teachers who show symptoms at schoolwill have access to PCRtests.Rapid and take-home testsare for the general public at participating stores andinsome child-care settings when risk is high.

Travellers who need a testhavelocal options to pay for one.

In western Quebec:

Quebec has also stopped givingPCR tests to the general public.

PCR tests will be reserved for high-risk settings such as hospitals, long-term care homes, detention centres and homeless shelters.

Rapid COVID-19 tests are available in all Quebec daycares,preschools and elementary schools, as well asthrough pharmaciesfor the general population.

People can report rapid testresultsonline.

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 both Ontario and Quebec.

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.

Akwesasne has COVID-19 test andvaccineinformation online or at613-575-2341. There's helpfor people who need essentials while isolating.TheneighbouringSaint Regis Mohawk Tribe is also offering tests.

It has had more than 1,800 residents test positive forCOVID-19and has reported19deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

People in Kitigan ZibiAnishinabeg can call the COVID hotline at 819-449-8085for a test. Ode Widokazowincan help people in isolation get groceries at819-449-2323.

Ithad more than 150confirmed casesandone death as of mid-January, and148 of those cases are since Dec. 3, 2021.

People inPikwkanagncan call 613-625-1175for tests and vaccines. It's offering rapid andPCR tests threemornings a week.

The community didn't have any confirmed COVID-19 cases until December 2021; it had73confirmed cases as of Feb. 4.

Anyone inTyendinagawho's interested in a testcan call its community health team at613-967-3603, text it at 613-686-5510 or send it an email.It had91confirmed casesand two deaths until it paused sharing its count in early January 2022.