What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa for the week of March 14

Recent developments:

• Quebec capacity and vaccine rules end;Ontario mask rulesareending soon.
• Ottawa Public Health updates the city about spread, risk prevention.
• Health Canada approves Moderna's COVID-19vaccine for kids age six to 11.
• The federal governmentisending pre-arrival COVID testingApril 1.

This is Quebec'sfirst week without capacity limits and the vaccine passport, and the last week of mandatory masks in most places in Ontario.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) expectsan increase in COVID-19 transmission as restrictions are removed, and if that becomes concerning, it willgo over local options with the province.The city's trends are stable.

Ontario's science table issueda similar forecastThursday.

OPHcontinues to promote vaccinations so that people don't get seriously sick, along withmasking in crowded and indoor spaces to protect others.

Health Canada has approved the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of six and 11 years old. It recommends doses a month apart.

The federal government has confirmedthat by April 1,fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada won't have to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test.

What are the numbers to watch?

Testing strategies have changed underthe contagiousOmicron variant, meaning many people with COVID-19 aren't reflected inthe case count.

Hospitalizations and wastewater monitoringcan help fill in some of the grey areas. There'smore information in our daily story on key numbers.

Ottawa

The average level of coronavirus in Ottawa'swastewaterhas risen back to where it was at the start of March and has been generally stable for about a month.

There are 11Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for treatment of active COVID-19 as of Thursday's report from Ottawa Public Health (OPH). Twoneedintensive care.

If you include all of the city's COVID patients, such asnon-Ottawa residents or people whohappen totestpositive while in hospitalfor other reasons, there were 35 as of Monday.

Ottawa has had64,578 confirmedcases ofCOVID-19 since the start of the pandemic,and755residentshave died from the illness.

The wider region

Communities outside of Ottawa haveabout 30COVID-19 hospitalizations. About 15of those patients need intensive care. These numbersdon't include Hastings Prince EdwardPublic Health.

Wastewater trends are stableacross Leeds, Grenville and Lanarkcountiesandvary in theKingston area.

In the rest of eastern Ontario, 407people with COVID-19 have died. The death toll is 289in western Quebec.

More than5.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Rates of eligible eastern Ontarianswith at least two vaccine dosesrange from 80 to 92 per cent, while adults with a third dose range from 58to 70 per cent. These numbers aren't regularly available for western Quebec.

What are the rules?

There are no longer anyprovincial proof-of-vaccination requirements orcapacitylimits inOntario and Quebec.

• Who's keeping and who's ditching vaccine mandates as Ontario drops requirement

Masks aremandatory for most people in indoor public spaces. Quebec's rules cover children aged 10 and up, except for studentsin class, while Ontario's forthose age two and up.

WATCH | How this teacher who reads lipsnavigated mask mandates:

Ms. Nicholass class is filled with art and fun activities, students say

3 years ago

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Grade 3 students share what they enjoy about Ms. Nicholass virtual class and describe what it was like to find out that she uses a hearing aid.

Masking requirements will be removed in most indoor settings in Ontarioon Monday.All itsCOVID-19rules are expected to end April 27.

In Quebec, mask rules will be dropped everywhere aside from on public transit bya still-unspecified day inmid-April. The transit requirement is slated to end in May.

• Quebec tables bill to end pandemic state of emergency

Mask rules may be different in places that fall under federal jurisdiction, like the Ottawa airport.

Ontarioand Quebec isolation rules have loosenedfor some close contacts.

Travel

Travellers olderthan 12 years and four months mustbe fully vaccinatedto board a plane ortrain in Canada.

People have to befullyvaccinated,pre-approved, asymptomaticand test negativeto enterCanada without quarantining. Travellerscantake an authorizedrapid testuntil April 1, when that requirement isending.

• Here's what fully vaccinated travellers need to know about travel testing changes

The U.S.requiresall adults crossing aborder to be fully vaccinated. People flying there will need proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.

Travellers who need a testhavelocal options to pay for one.

How can I manage risk?

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, includingits BA.2subvariant,aremore contagious than other typesbut generally less deadly for vaccinated people without underlying conditions.

Thoughthis wave has peakedand severe health problems are generally slowly declining,thislevel of spread puts vulnerable peopleat risk.

• Global rise in COVID-19 cases is 'tip of the iceberg,' WHO warns

Health officials saypeople need to take personal responsibility as government rules ease.

People cangetallvaccine doses they're eligible for, stayhomewhen sick, wear masks in crowded and indoor spaces, keep their hands clean,distance, see others outdoorsif possible and limitclose contacts, along with consideringcommunity spread and vaccine rates.

Medical masks are recommended over cloth ones.

Vaccines

Vaccines curb thespreadof all variants of COVID-19 and go a long way toward avoiding deaths and hospitalizations,although theydon't offer total protection.

SixCOVID-19 vaccinesare safe and approvedin Canada, with some age restrictionsaround who can get them.

Eastern Ontario

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

Ontario adults canbook thirdshotsonce 84 days have passed since their second. Third dosesare available foreveryone age 12 to 17 after 168 days.

Fourth doses are being offered to select groups 84 days after their third.

Check local health unit websitesforclinics. Pharmacies and some family doctors alsooffer vaccines through their own booking systems.

Western Quebec

Eligible residentscan get an appointment onlineby calling819-592-5861or by visitingapermanent ormobile walk-in clinic.

All adults areeligible for a third dose; the general recommended wait time between second and third shots 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.

Ontario andQuebec are using Pfizer's COVID-19prescription treatment Paxlovid at first on peopleat risk of severe COVID-19 problems.

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

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

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 the demand generated by the Omicron variant.

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

Rapidtestsare available for the general public at participating stores, for some workers andinsome child-care settings.

The plan is for people with a positive rapid test to eventually be able to get a follow-up PCR test.

In western Quebec:

Quebec has also stopped givingPCR tests to the general public, saving them for those in high-risk settings.

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 PCR test in both Ontario and Quebec.

Inuit in Ottawa can call the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team at 613-740-0999on weekdays fortesting andvaccinesin Inuktitut or English .

Akwesasne has COVID-19information online or at613-575-2341. TheneighbouringSaint Regis Mohawk Tribe is also offering tests and has ended mandatory masking. About 1,900 residents have tested positive and 19 have diedbetween its northand southsections.

People in Kitigan ZibiAnishinabeg can call the COVID hotline at 819-449-8085for a test on Wednesdays, if they qualify. Rapid tests are available at the health centre. Ithad more than 175 confirmed casesandone death as of mid-January;152 of those cases occurred since Dec. 3, 2021.

Pikwkanagnhas ended its COVID hotline, referring people to its health-care services instead.The community didn't have any confirmed COVID-19 cases until December 2021; it had114confirmed cases as of March 11.

Anyone inTyendinagawho's interested in a PCR test orvaccinecan call itshealth team at613-967-3603.They can askabout rapid tests by texting613-686-5510 or sendingan email. It had91confirmed casesand two deaths until it stopped sharing its count in January.