What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 5

Recent developments:

• Ottawa is reporting 141 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths.
• Ontario is on track to give first doses of COVID-19 vaccines to most adults this month.
• The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is safe for kids as young as 12, says Health Canada.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reporting 141 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths Wednesday.More than one-third of the city's residents, or more than 353,000 people, have had at least one vaccine dose.

Ontario is now on track to administer first doses of COVID-19 vaccinesto 65 per cent of the province's adult populatonby the end of May, provincial health officials said Wednesday.

Health Canada says the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is now approvedfor children as young as 12. It's the first vaccine deemed safe for children in Canada.

How many cases are there?

The region is in a record-breaking third wave of the pandemic that includes more dangerous coronavirus variants, straining contact tracing andpushing hospitals past their limits.

As of Tuesday, 24,892Ottawa residents have tested positive for COVID-19. There are 1,722 known active cases, 22,693 resolved cases and 517deaths.

Public health officials have reported more than45,400 COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than41,900resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 178people have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 201.

Akwesasne has had more than650residents test positive and 10 deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Kitigan Zibi has had 34 cases. Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory has had 11, with one death. Pikwakanagan hasn't had any.

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.

The transfer of COVID-19 patients from other regions to Ottawa hospitals continues. As of the most recent update Tuesday, there were about 35 COVID-19 patients from other communities in Ottawa ICUs.

What can I do?

Eastern Ontario:

Ontario is under a stay-at-home orderuntil at least May 20.

People should only leave home for essential reasons like getting groceries, seeking health care and exercising. They should stay withinimmediate area or province unless it'sabsolutely necessary to leave.

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The vast majority of gatherings are prohibited, with exceptions that include small activities with householdsand small religious services.

Golf courses and tennis and basketball courts are among the closed recreation venues.

Police checkpoints areset up between Ontario and Quebec but are not running 24/7.Officers in Ontariohave the power to stop and question people if they believe they'vegathered illegally.

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Ontario has indefinitely movedto online learning. Daycares remain open.

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.

Local health units and communitiescan also set their own rules, as Ottawa's is doing around playgrounds,Prince Edward County's is doing around traveland Kingston is doing forBreakwater Park.

Western Quebec

PremierFranois Legaulthas said 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 closeduntil Monday acrossthe Outaouais. Some rules start to loosen that day.

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.

The curfewis from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

People are 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 reasonsunder threat of a fine if they go to a yellow or green zone.

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 taking over.

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.

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.

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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.

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditions and/or weakened immune systemsgethelp with errands.

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Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada. The Pfizer-BioNTech shot can be given to children as young as 12.

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

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About 835,000doseshave been given outin the Ottawa-Gatineau regionsince mid-December, including about 381,000 doses toOttawa residentsand about 160,000 in western Quebec.

Eastern Ontario

Ontariois vaccinating people age 55and olderat itsclinics. Peoplecanbook appointments onlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

The province has opened up appointments for people age 18 and up inOttawa'sK1T, K1V and K2V"hot spot" postal codes.

Separately, some Ottawans in the city'spriority neighbourhoods above age 18and Indigenous people above age 16can check their eligibility online and make an appointment through the cityfor a pop-up clinic.

People whoare 40or will bethis year can contactparticipating pharmacies for a vaccine appointment. Pharmaciescan offer walk-in vaccines if they wish.

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Ontario has a staggered rollout plan to expand its vaccination campaign week-by-week, allowing everyone over age 18 to make an appointment starting the week of May 24.

The next expansionwill come tomorrowto include allpeople age 50 to 54, all peoplewith "high-risk" health conditionsand morepeople who can't work from home,including education workers.

Local health units have some flexibilityin the larger framework,so check their websitesfor details. Some have said they won't have the vaccine supply to cover everyone who becomes eligible right away.

Western Quebec

Quebec's vaccination plancoverspeople age 40 and olderin the Outaouais, along withessential workers and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, includingpregnancy.

It's also doing a staggered expansion, reaching down to people age 18 and above as of May 14. Its next local expansion is people aged 35 to 39, starting Friday.

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 have started giving shotswith appointments through the province.

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.

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In eastern Ontario:

Anyone seeking a testshouldbook an appointment. Check with yourhealth unit for clinic locations and hours.

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.

In western Quebec:

Tests are strongly recommended for people with symptoms, their contacts and people who have been told to get tested.

Outaouais residentscan 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.

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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.