What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 17

Recent developments:

• Capacity limits return to many Ottawa businesses on Monday.
• Ottawa reports 309 cases of COVID-19 Friday.
• Ottawa and Ontario's top medical officers have called news conferences.
• All returning international travellers will once again need a moleculartest.
• Ottawa residents say the frustration of vaccine hunting is back.
• Ottawa LCBOs didn't have free rapid COVID-19 testsavailable when they opened.

What's the latest?

New capacity limits and physical distancing requirements will come into effect Monday for many Ottawa businesses as the city faces a soaring COVID-19 case rate likely driven bythe Omicron variant.

Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa's medical officer of health, announced Friday afternoon she had issued a letter of instruction directing many businesses to limit capacity to 50 per cent.

The letter of instruction also includes other more targeted restrictions for bars and restaurants, like requiringpatrons to remain seated and limiting the number of diners to six per table.

Ottawa has reported more than 300 COVID-19 cases in one day for just the seventh time and the city is seeing several indicators double in a matter of days.

Ontario's premier and chief medical officer of health are now scheduled to speak at 3:30 p.m.

Starting Monday, all travellers will once again need to get a COVID-19 molecular test before returning to Canada, rollingback an exemption announced last month. Canada hasdroppedits travel ban on flights from 10 African countries.

Ottawa residents looking for a vaccine this week say thefrustration of earlier vaccine hunting is back.Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has made changes including a new mass clinic and stopping walk-in third doses.

Friday morning, OPH announced it was out of appointments at its clinics and was working to create more spaces on Monday.

WATCH | Ottawa Public Health says number of new cases is 'on the worst possible curve' as the holidays approach

Ottawa Public Health says number of new cases is on the worst possible curve as the holidays approach

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Duration 2:00

Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawas medical officer of health, announced the return of capacity limits for many businesses including restaurants, sports facilities and museums and encouraged residents to limit their close contacts.

How many cases are there?

As of Friday,Ottawa has had 33,712confirmedcases ofCOVID-19.

There are 1,223 known active cases, while 31,869cases are consideredresolved and 620 people have died from the illness.

Public health officials have reported more than 64,9COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than60,400cases now resolved. Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 242people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 223.

Akwesasnehas had about1,250 residents test positive forCOVID-19and has reported18deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Tyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had 56cases and one death.Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeghashad 52 cases andone death.Pikwkanagn hasn't had any cases.

What are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

Health officials say people should recommit to the fundamentals of getting vaccinated, testing and staying homewhen sick andlimitingsocial contacts to counter the Omicron variant that's further straining the health-care system.

• Recent COVID-19 exposures in Ottawa at live shows
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Local officials can change rules and that's happened inRenfrew County, the Belleville areaand Kingston area. Ottawa is working on changes.

Health units for the Belleville, Kingston and Leeds,Grenville and Lanark areasareasking residents to avoid in-persongatherings, as are councils forAkwesasneand Kitigan ZibiAnishinabeg.

WATCH | Ontario's science table says people, gov't need to make changes:

Calls for Ontario circuit breaker as experts warn about Omicrons threat

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Ontarios top COVID-19 scientists are calling for a circuit breaker to slow down the case surge, as researchers learn more about the threat Omicron could pose to hospital capacity.

Private gathering limits are25 people inside and 100 people outside.Long-term care rules are tightening over the next week.

The province'svaccine passportisrequired for people age 12 and up in many public places. It won't be required for younger kids.

People can prove their vaccine status with a paper document, aPDFfile or aQR code. These documents have to have a QR code as of Jan. 4 and medical exemptions have to have one by Jan. 10.

Western Quebec

Ten people are allowed to gatherinsidehomes and 20 people outdoors. A number of rules are being tightened on Monday including a number of capacity limits.

Masks will again be required in classrooms and on school buses and high schoolers will start January with online learning.

WATCH | The possible return of Quebec's COVID curfew:

Curfews not off the table, says Legault

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Quebec Premier Franois Legault did not commit to ruling out curfew as a potential future measure to fighting the Omicron variant.

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

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.

Scientists are working to find out more aboutthe very fast spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, itsseverity andthe performance of vaccines against it.

WATCH | A Q&A on vaccine protection against Omicron:

COVID-19: Should Omicron stop vaccinated people from socializing?

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Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti answers questions about the Omicron variant, including whether its OK for vaccinated people to socialize.

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 by community, by the type of exposureand 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 morethan 12 years and four months oldmust nowbe fully vaccinatedto board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada.

The federal government is officially advising against non-essential international travel until at least Jan. 12.

People have to befully vaccinated and pre-approvedto enterCanada and once again have to test negative for COVID-19as of Tuesday. Travel restrictions no longer specifically apply to some African countries.

The U.S.requireseveryone crossing aland, air or water border to be fully vaccinated.

People flying there will need proof of a negative COVID 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.

WATCH |Canada's vaccine reserve exceeds goal of 4 million doses:

Federal government promises vaccine reserve cap

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Former Procurement Minister Anita Anand on Aug. 12 said Canada will maintain a reserve of about four million vaccines for Canadians to access as needed, and said the rest will be used in other countries.

Health Canada hasapproved Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children as young asfive. Both local provinces generally recommend doses for kids age five to 11 be given at least eight weeks apart, with limited exceptions.

Everyone 18 and older in Ontario is able to book thirdshots at provincialstarting Mondayand at participating pharmacies starting today. The provincealso shortenedthe interval required between the second and third doses from six months to three months.

Quebecwilllower its age threshold for boosters to 65 on Monday, then age 60 one week later.

There have been more than 3.9 million COVID-19 first, second and third vaccine doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region,which has about 2.3 million residents.

Eastern Ontario

Peopleborn in 2016 and earlier 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 clinics.

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

WATCH | Long lines for Ottawa vaccines, even with appointments:

Ottawa residents face two-hour wait at vaccine clinic, even with appointments

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Ottawa residents with appointments to get COVID-19 vaccines reported long waits at the Minto Sports Complex Thursday, just days before the province will expand third-dose eligibility to all Ontarians over the age of 18.

Western Quebec

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

Clinics for childrenare in schools andkids 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.

WATCH | Rapid tests arrive after opening at some Ottawa LCBOs:

Ottawa residents find limited supply of rapid tests at LCBO stores

3 years ago

Duration 0:57

Residents who were able to get the kits say theyre relieved to have them ahead of the holidays, but say they should have been widely available much earlier.

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 pharmaciestest people with symptoms, along with certain people without symptoms.

Rapid and take-home testsare available in malls, libraries and LCBOs,Kingston-area family doctor offices,andsome child-care settings when risk is high. Students will get a pack of test kits for the holiday break.

• Locations so far of the province's holiday rapid testing blitz

A positive rapid test will trigger a follow-up.

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 areoffered in some places instead of a swab.

Rapid COVID-19 tests are available in all Quebec daycares,preschools and elementary schoolsand as of Monday,through pharmaciesfor the general population.

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.