What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Monday, April 26

Recent developments:

• Ontario has asked the military for pandemic help.
• Ottawa is reporting 190 newCOVID-19 cases and five more deaths.
• Outside Ottawa, four more people have died ofCOVID-19 across the region.

What's the latest?

Ontario has made a formal request to the Canadian Armed Forces to help deal with a surge in critical care cases associated withCOVID-19's third wave, just days after it rejected an offer by the federal government to send in extra personnel.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reporting 190 newCOVID-19cases and five more deaths on Monday.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit is reporting two more residents have died of COVID-19. Health authorities in the Outaouais andRenfrew County are each reporting one more death from COVID-19.

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 Monday, 23,503 Ottawa residents have tested positive for COVID-19. There are 2,682known active cases, 20,326resolved cases and 495deaths.

Public health officials have reported more than43,000 COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 38,100 resolved cases.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 174 people have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 192.

Akwesasne has had more than 620 residents 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.

What can I do?

Eastern Ontario:

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

People can only leave home for essential reasons such as getting groceries, seeking health care and exercising. They're asked to only leave their immediate area or province if absolutely necessary.

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 shutteredrecreation 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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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. Ontario has indefinitely movedto online learning. Daycares remain open.

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 closed until May 3 in the Outaouais.

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 thereare 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.

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.

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. Direct flights from India and Pakistan are banned until late May.

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

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada.

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 690,000doseshave been given outin the Ottawa-Gatineau regionsince mid-December, including about318,000 doses toOttawa residentsand about 127,000 in western Quebec.

Eastern Ontario

Ontario is now in Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout, with the first doses during Phase 1 generally going tocare home residents and health-care workers.

All health units in eastern Ontarioare now vaccinating people age 60 and olderat their clinics, while it's55 and over in Renfrew County. Peoplecanbook appointments online or over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

The province has opened up appointments for people age 50 to 54 in Ottawa'sK1T, K1V and K2V"hot spot" postal codes.

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Separately, some Ottawans in priority neighbourhoods age 50 and upcan check their eligibility online and make an appointment through the cityfor a pop-up clinic.

Indigenous people over age 16 in Ottawa can make an appointment the same way.

People whoare 40or will bethis year can contactparticipating pharmacies for a vaccine appointment. Pharmacies are now allowed to offer walk-in vaccines if they wish.

• Pharmacies running low on AstraZeneca vaccine as supply issues persist

Phase 2 also includespeople with underlying health conditions, followed byessential workerswho can't work from homein May.

Phase 3 should involve vaccinating anyone older than 16 starting in July.Local health units have some flexibilityin the larger framework,so check their websitesfor details.

Western Quebec

Quebec also started by vaccinatingpeople in care homes and health-care workers.

The vaccination plan now coverspeople age 45 and older, along withessential workers and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

People age 45 to 79 canget a same-dayappointment at Gatineau's Palais des Congrs.

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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.

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.