What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 9

Recent developments:

• Ontario to drop most mask mandatesMarch 21, all rulesend April 27.
• Ottawa continues to see stability in itsCOVID trends, with oneoutlier.
• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties report their 84th COVID death.

Citing improving health indicators,Ontario officials say they will scrap most mask mandates including in schools, restaurants and stores across the province on March 21, with the province's remaining COVID-19 regulations set to drop by April 27.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said society is learning to live with the risks of COVID. That includes vulnerable people continuing to take precautions and people being prepared for mask mandates to return if needed, he said.

The province has also changed testing and isolation rules.

Ottawa Public Health asks people to remember that people wearing masks who are less vulnerable protects people who are vulnerable.

• Lifting mask mandate in Ontario schools 'premature,' education union says

Ottawa's COVID-19 situation remains generally stable. A rising test positivity rate outside of long-term care homes is an outlier.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark (LGL) counties reported their 84th COVID death Wednesday.

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 Wednesday's report from Ottawa Public Health (OPH). Noneneedintensive 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 has63,731confirmedcases ofCOVID-19and751 residentshave 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 area,rising or stableat sites east of Ottawaand stable or dropping in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties.

In the rest of eastern Ontario, 395 people 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 March 21, masking requirements will be removed in most indoor settings. They'llremain in place for public transit, long-term care and retirement homes, shelters, jails and congregate care and living settings until April 27, when all COVID-19 rules are expected to end.

WATCH | Why mask rules can end, according to the chief medical officer:

Ontario dropping most mask requirements March 21

3 years ago

Duration 3:56

Saying the province now has the capacity to manage the impact of COVID-19, Ontario Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Kieran Moore announced most mask mandates would be removed on March 21.

The province'svaccine passporthas ended. A vaccine mandate for staff and visitors in long-term care homes remains.

Businesses and other settings can still ask for proof of vaccination.

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.

• ANALYSIS |Mask mandates lift in Canada and could further divide Canadians

Ontarioand Quebec allow most people to self-isolate for a minimum of five days. Ontario isolation rules have loosenedfor close contacts.

Travel

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

• Air North brings back more flights out of Ottawa April 30

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.