What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Thursday, March 10

Recent developments:

• Quebec changes isolation rules, allows regular proms again.
• Ottawamedical officer of health says trends are high enough for precautions.

Quebec public health officials have announced the easing of more public health measuresas key health indicators continue to trend downward.

As of Saturday,people who come into close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 but are not showing showing any symptoms have different isolation rules. High schoolers will also be getting their regular, indoor proms back.

Ottawa's pandemic trends remain stable. Its medical officer of health says they are still relatively high and people should take precautions to counter remaining risks in the weeks ahead.

What are the numbers to watch?

Testing can't meet the general public'sdemandbecause of the contagiousOmicron variant, meaning many people with COVID-19won'tbe reflected in the 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'swastewateris stable at levels higher than before the Omicron wave.

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

There were 38patients as of Mondayif you include peoplein Ottawa hospitals from other areas or for other reasons whohappen to have COVID-19.

Ottawa has63,865confirmedcases ofCOVID-19and752residentshave died from the illness.

The wider region

Communities outside of Ottawa haveabout 40COVID-19 hospitalizations. About 15of them need intensive care. These numbersdon't include Hastings Prince EdwardPublic Health.

Wastewater levels arerising or stableat sites in the Kingston areaand stable or dropping in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties.

In the rest of eastern Ontario, 397people with COVID-19 have died. The death toll is 288in western Quebec.

There have been more than5.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the Ottawa-Gatineau region,which has about 2.3 million residents.

Rates of eligible eastern Ontarianswith at least two vaccines range from about80 to 90 per cent. Thosethird dose rates for adults range from about 55 to 70 per cent.

These numbers are not regularly available for western Quebec.

What are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

There are no capacity or gathering limits. Masks aremandatory in indoor public spaces.

On Monday March 21, masking requirements will be removed in most indoor settings. They'llremain in place for public transit, carehomes, shelters, jails and congregate careuntil April 27, when all COVID-19 rules are expected to end.

WATCH | Reaction in Ottawa to the end of mask rules:

Ottawa residents weigh in on upcoming end of provincial mask mandate

3 years ago

Duration 1:31

The province of Ontario will stop requiring masks in schools, restaurants, gyms and stores on March 21, though some Ottawa residents say they still plan to wear one.

The province'svaccine passporthas ended. Businesses and other settings can still ask for proof of vaccination.

A vaccine mandate for staff and visitors in long-term care homes remains.

Western Quebec

Gatherings at homesat homes have no limits, although 10 people or three householdsat most are recommended.

Dining rooms, bars, theatres, gyms, spas and places of worshipcan open with capacity limits. Retail shops don't have any.

There are plans to end capacity limits and the vaccine passport on Saturday.Thatpassportcoversmost people above age 12 in a shrinking number of spaces.

Masks are mandatory indoors in publicfor peopleage 10 and up, except for students in class. They will only be mandatoryon public transitby mid-April, then that transit requirement ends in May.

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. Travellerscantake an authorizedrapid test.

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

• U.S. looks to ease mask mandates for planes, buses and mass transit next month

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.

• No Ottawa ambulances available for more than 15 straight hours in December

Canada's chief public health officer sayspeople need to take personal responsibility as government rules ease;people cangetallvaccine doses as they're eligible for, stayhomewhen sick, mask, distance and limitclose contacts, along with consideringcommunity spread and vaccine rates.

Medical masks are recommended over cloth ones.

WATCH | Infectious disease specialist says masks 'imperfect' but still help:

Masks should stay on for 'time being,' says specialist

3 years ago

Duration 1:06

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch believes masks should still be worn at this time because of the high level of Omicron still circulating in Ontario.

Vaccines

Vaccines curb thespreadof all variants of COVID-19 and go a long way toward avoiding deaths and hospitalizations,without offering total protection.

SixCOVID-19 vaccines are safe and approvedin Canada, with some age restrictions.

Both local provinces generally recommend doses for kids age five to 11at least eight weeks apartfor the bestprotection.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. Expertsagree people should waituntil they'verecovered.

Eastern Ontario

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

Everyone 18 and older in Ontario canbook thirdshotsonce 84 days have passed since their second. Third doses are available foreveryone age 12 to 17once168 days have passed.

Fourth doses are being offered to select groups after the same 84-day wait.

Check local health unit websitesfor details on their clinics. Pharmacies and some family doctors alsooffer vaccines through their own booking systems.

Western Quebec

Those who are eligible can get an appointment online, by calling819-592-5861or by visitingapermanent 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.

Ontario andQuebec are using Pfizer's COVID-19prescription treatment Paxlovid at first on adultsat 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.

• Survey suggestsCOVID-19brought out the worst in people, pulled themfurther apart

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. That list is expanding toinclude home and community care settings.

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 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 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 Wednesdaysif they qualify. Rapid tests are available at the health centre. Ithad more than 175 confirmed casesandone death as of mid-January;152 of those casessince 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 had112confirmed cases as of March 4.

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.