What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 7

Recent developments:

• Quebec increases limit for indoor holiday gatherings, extends third dose eligibility.
• Ottawa reports 68 more COVID-19 cases, themost in aday since late September.
• Hastings Prince Edward breaks weekly case records.
• Ontario pandemic modelspredict a strain on its hospitals in the coming weeks.

What's the latest?

The Quebec government will allow private indoor gatherings of up to 20 vaccinated people as of Dec. 23. Third COVID-19 vaccine dosesare becoming available for more kinds of people and people in their 60s will be eligible next month.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported 68 moreCOVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the city'shighest daily count since the last week of September.

As active case counts climb in the wider region,Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has broken weekly case records.

New Ontario models project a rise in cases and hospitalizations even without accounting for the omicron variant. The province is further delaying lifting the rest of its capacity limits that require proof of vaccination.

How many cases are there?

As of Tuesday,Ottawa has had 32,401confirmedcases ofCOVID-19.There are 448known active cases, while 31,335cases are consideredresolved and 618people have died from the illness.

Public health officials have reported more than 61,000COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 58,600 cases now resolved. Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 235people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 223.

Akwesasnehas had more than 1,150 residents test positive forCOVID-19and has reported14deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeghashad 42cases, one death and an active outbreak.Tyendinaga Mohawk Territoryhas had 40 cases and one death.Pikwakanagan hasn't had any cases.

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.

What are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

The province'svaccine passportisrequired for people age 12 and up in many public places. It won't be required for younger kids.People can show paper, PDF orQR codeproof.

There are no capacity restrictionsfor most places that require proof of vaccination,norfor outdoor organized events.

Private gathering limits are25 people inside and 100 people outside.

The plan isto liftpublic health measures in stagesuntil March 2022, with the next step paused as officials monitor some rising trends.

Health officials say people should recommit to the fundamentals of getting vaccinated, testing and staying homewhen sick andlimitingsocial contacts.

Local officials can change rules for example,Renfrew Countyhas done that for isolation, the Kingston and Belleville areas for school symptomsand the Kingston area for indoor gatherings.

Kingston's medical officer of health and Akwesasne's councilare bothasking residents to avoid in-persongatherings.

WATCH | Science advisor says only small, vaccinated groups should gather:

Keep holiday gatherings small in face of omicron variant, Ontario science adviser says

3 years ago

Duration 4:23

Dr. Peter Jni says people need to 'use your common sense' when it comes to having small gatherings over the holidays in the face of the omicron variant.

Western Quebec

Ten people are allowed to gatherinsidehomes and 20 people outdoors which increases to 50 if playing sports. The indoor gathering limit goes up to 20 vaccinated people on Dec. 23.

There are nocapacity limits for Quebec venues with assigned seats andrestaurants.

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.

This means 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 inQuebecandOntarioand 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.

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Scientists are working to find out how easily the new omicron coronavirus variantspreads, itsseverity andthe performance of vaccines against it.

Travel

Travellers morethan 12 years and four months oldmust nowbe fully vaccinatedto board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada.

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.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents no longer need proof of a test when returning fromtrips to the U.S.under 72 hours.

The hope is that other countries will acceptprovincial or territorial proof of vaccination.

People have to befully vaccinated and pre-approvedto enterCanada. Because of the omicron variant, air travellers from every country except the United States have to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival and isolate until they get results.

There are further travel restrictions from a number ofAfrican countries because ofomicron.

WATCH |Advice for travellers in the era of omicron:

Rules are changing all the time: Advice for travellers in the era of omicron

3 years ago

Duration 0:52

Richard Smart, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, says working with a professional travel advisor may help travellers navigate the ecosystem of shifting rules and restrictions.

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.

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Health Canada hasapproved Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children as young asfive.Doses for kids age five to 11 will be given at least eight weeks apart in both local provinces.

Ontario's next third shot expansion comes Monday morningforpeople in their 50s and 60s; Quebecexpanded it in early December and plans to lower its age in January.

There have been more than 3.8 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

Ontario isvaccinating anyone born in 2016 and earlier.

Peoplecanlook 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 anddoses on short notice ascampaigns look tofill gaps in vaccine coverage and cover expandedeligibility.

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

Western Quebec

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

Clinics for newly eligible children are in schools and kids 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 about the process.

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 some places,including pharmacies andsome child-care settings when risk is high. A positive 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 schools.

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.