What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa for the week of April 4

Recent developments:

• COVID-19 spread is surging.
• Provincesexpandeligibility for afourth COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• Quebec to keep maskingmandateat least through end of April.

COVID-19 spread issurging inboth Ontario and Quebecand local health officials want people to be careful.

Ottawa and parts of Kingstonarestill setting records for the amount of coronavirus in its wastewater, eastern Ontario as a whole has one of the highest wastewater averages in Ontario and hospitalization rates are high in some rural areas.

Quebec's health-care institutedoes not predict hospital capacitywill be overwhelmed. The head of Ontario's science table says it "might not" see as many hospitalizations as in January because of immunity from vaccines and recent infection.

WATCH | The relationship between wastewater and hospitalizations:

Better immunity may mean less severe illness despite wastewater spike, researcher says

2 years ago

Duration 1:07

Tyson Graber, co-lead investigator on Ottawa's coronavirus wastewater monitoring program, says existing immunity to COVID-19 may blunt the effects of a sixth wave, keeping hospitalization rates lower than in previous waves.

Ontario has opened fourth doseeligibilityto people age 60 and above and Indigenous adults.Quebecers in their 60s can get a fourth vaccine dose starting Monday.

Quebec is keeping itsmask mandate in indoor public spaces until at least April 30 asCOVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge.

What are the numbers to watch?

Testing strategies have changed underthe contagiousOmicron variant andmany people with COVID-19 aren't reflected in case counts.Hospitalization numbersand the wastewater signaloffer additionaldatathat can help fill in the picture.

There'smore information in our daily story on key numbers.

Ottawa

The average and now daily levels of coronavirus in Ottawa'swastewaterhas risen quickly to a new high, although that data isn'tavailable for the first wave.

There were 19Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for treatment of active COVID-19 as of Friday's OPHreport. None needed intensive care.

Ottawa has had67,648confirmedcases ofCOVID-19 since the start of the pandemic,and765residentshave died from the illness.

The wider region

Communities outside of Ottawa haveabout 45COVID-19 hospitalizations. About 10of those patients need intensive care. These numbersdon't include Hastings Prince EdwardPublic Health.

Recent wastewaterdata from Kingstonincludes some of the highest readings of 2022. The wastewater signal isrising or stable across Leeds, Grenville and Lanark countysites.

In the rest of eastern Ontario, 435people with COVID-19 have died. The death toll is 294in western Quebec.

About5.2million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to people in theOttawa-Gatineauregion.

Rates of eligible eastern Ontarianswith at least two vaccine dosesrange from 80 to 92 per cent; adults with a third dose range from 58to 70 per cent. These numbers aren't regularly available for western Quebec.

What are the rules?

There are noprovincial vaccination requirements orcapacitylimits inOntario and Quebec.

Masks are onlymandatory in certainindoor settingsin Ontario. All of Ontario's COVID-19rules are expected to end April 27.

• Ontario opposition parties call for masking rules, PCR access
• ANALYSIS | How bad will Ontario's 6th wave get?

Some placesmay choose to continuerequiring peoplewear masks,be vaccinated or both.Mask rules may be different in places that fall under federal jurisdiction, like the Ottawa airport.

Quebec has pushed back plans to lift most mask mandates until April 30at the earliest.

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 andasymptomaticto enterCanada without quarantining.

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-19spreads through droplets thatcan hang in the air. People can be contagious without symptoms, even after getting a vaccine.

Evidence suggests the dominant Omicron BA.2subvariantis more contagious than other typesbut generally less deadly for vaccinated people without underlying conditions.

Thislevel of spread puts vulnerable peopleat risk. Indicators are rising againbut it's not clearif it will rise toput serious pressureon the health-care system again.

• COVID-19, persistent stress create school staff shortages, unions say

Officials saypeople need to take personal responsibility as government rules transition torecommendations.

They're urging people to getallvaccine doses they're eligible for especially if they're over 50stayhomewhen sick, wear medical masks in crowded and indoor spaces, keep their hands clean,distance, see others outdoorsif possible and limitclose contacts, while also taking community spread and vaccine rates into account.

WATCH | Ontario's current spread and what people should do:

Don't panic but wear a mask, Ontario COVID-19 expert says

2 years ago

Duration 5:50

Wastewater testing suggests Ontario is experiencing as many new COVID-19 infections as it did during the peak of Omicron, says Dr. Peter Jni, the head of the province's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.

Vaccines

Vaccines curb thespreadof all variants of COVID-19 and go a long way toward avoiding deaths and hospitalizations,although theydon't offer total protection.

SixCOVID-19 vaccinesare safe and approvedin Canada, with some age restrictionsaround who can get them.

Eastern Ontario

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

Adults canbook thirdshotsonce 84 days have passed since their second. Third dosesare available for ages 12 to 17 after 168 days.

Fourth doses are being offered to select groups. Eligibility expands todayto everyone age 60 above as well as Indigenous adults once five months have passed since their third.

Check local health unit websitesforclinics and any local specifics, such as Renfrew County giving fourth doses by appointment only. Some pharmacies and family doctorsoffer vaccines through their own booking systems.

Western Quebec

Eligible residentscan get an appointment onlineby calling1-877-644-4545or by visitingapermanent ormobile walk-in clinic.

Everyone age 12 and up iseligible for a third dose; the general recommended wait time after a second is three months.

Fourth dosesare availablefor people age 70 and above andsome higher-riskgroups. Eligibility expandsto people in their 60s on Monday.

Symptoms, treatmentand testing

COVID-19can range from a cold-like illnessto a severe lung infection, with common symptoms including fever, a cough,headache, fatigueandvomiting. If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

• Is it COVID or a cold? How to know as Omicron cases rise

"Long-haul" symptoms can last for months.

Mental healthcan also beaffected by the pandemic,andresources are available to help.

Ontario andQuebec are using Pfizer's COVID-19 oral prescription treatment Paxlovidon peopleat risk of severe COVID-19 problems who have tested positive. They have to start within five days of developing symptoms.

Ontario has clinical assessment centreswhere people can get a test and treatment, with efforts underway to expand distribution sites. Quebec is giving it out for free at pharmacies with a medical professional's referral.

Tests

Ontario and Quebec have limited laboratory-checked PCR tests to people at higher riskdue to the demand generated by Omicron.

Qualified people can check with their health authorityforlocations and hours. Other people with symptoms should assume they have COVID-19 and isolate.

Both provinces are giving rapid tests away at participating storesand child-care settings. People can also buy them.

The plan is for people in Ontariowith a positive rapid test to eventually be able to get a follow-up PCR test.People in Quebec can report rapid testresultsonline.

First Nations, Inuit and Mtis

Indigenous people, or someone travelling to work in a remote Indigenous community, are eligible for a PCR 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-19, test and vaccineinformation online or at613-575-2341. Masks remain in its schools.About 1,900 residents have tested positive and 19 have diedbetween its northand southsections.

People in Kitigan ZibiAnishinabeg can call819-449-8085for a test on Wednesdays, if they qualify. Rapid tests are available at the health centre. Ithad more than 175 confirmed casesandone death as of mid-January; more than 150since Dec. 3, 2021.

Pikwkanagnhas ended its COVID hotline, referring people to its health-care services instead.The community didn't have any confirmed COVID-19 cases until December 2021; it had114confirmed cases as of March 11.

The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are keeping mask mandates for government buildingsuntil April 19. Anyonewho's interested in a PCR test orvaccinecan call613-967-3603, rapid tests are available at the wellbeing centre on weekdays. It had91confirmed casesuntil it stopped sharing its count in January,withtwo deaths.