What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 28

Recent developments:

• Ottawa's COVID trends are steady ahead of Ontario's major changes.
• Renfrew County reports same number of COVID deaths in February as2020-21 combined.
• The Treasury Board says back-to-office planning can resume.
• Pandemic restrictions loosentoday inQuebec.
• Canada eases several international travel rules today.

Ottawa's COVID-19 trends are steady at higher levels than before the Omicron wave began. Ontario is making major changes to its pandemic rules tomorrow, taking away proof-of-vaccination requirements and capacity and gathering limits.

On Monday, Renfrew County reported its 13thCOVID-19 death in February, meaning it has reported as many of these deaths this month as in 2020 and 2021 combined.

The President of the Treasury Board saysfederal government departments and agencies can start working on back-to-office plans again. This work was put on hold more than two months ago during the rise of the Omicron variant.

Bars in Quebechave been closed since Dec. 20, but they areallowed to reopen today with restrictions as Quebec continues its phased lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

Canada is easing several international travel measures today.

Numbers to watch

Testing can't meetdemand during the Omicron wave, meaning many people with COVID-19won'tbe reflected in the case count. Hospitalizations and wastewater monitoringcan help fill in some of the grey areas.

The average measurement of coronavirus in Ottawa'swastewateris slowly dropping. It's dropping or stable at the Kingston area's sites.

There are 16Ottawa residentsin local hospitals for treatment of active COVID-19 as of Monday's report from Ottawa Public Health (OPH). One of these patients is in anICU.

The overall hospitalization number is higher if you include peoplein hospital for other reasons who also happen to have COVID-19. There were 66 as of Saturdday.

Ottawa has had 62,703confirmedcases ofCOVID-19. There are 922known active cases a number thatmay actually be muchhigher while 741residentshave died from the illness.

Outside of Ottawa, the wider region has about 55 COVID-19 hospitalizations. About 15of them still need intensive care. These numbersdon't include Hastings Prince EdwardPublic Health.

In eastern Ontario outside of Ottawa, 385people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 287.

What are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

For today, the province's private gathering limitsare 50people inside and 100outside.Sports arenas, concert venues and theatres can be half full.

There are no capacity limits in restaurants, bars, retail businesses, cinemas and gyms.The government willlift all capacity limits on businesses and social gatherings tomorrow.

This is also the last day the province'svaccine passportisrequired formany public places for people above12 years and 12 weeks old. After that, businesses and other settings can still ask for it.

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Elsbeth Vaino, the owner of Custom Strength, says shes disinclined to start welcoming unvaccinated clients because she puts the blame for the most recent lockdown squarely on their shoulders.

A vaccine mandate for staff and visitors in long-term care homes will remain in place for now.

Western Quebec

Private gathering limitsat homes no longer have any restrictions, although health officials recommend 10 people at mostor three households.

Dining rooms and now barsare open at half capacity.

Theatres and places of worship can reopen with capacity limits. Retail businesses no longer have capacity limits.Gyms and spas are now open, and more sports canresume.

There are plans to change rulesin stages until March 14, when capacity limits and the vaccine passport end.

That vaccine passportis in place for most people age 13 and up in a shrinking number of publicspaces. People can use an app or show paper proof they have at least two doses.

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.

Evidence suggests the dominant Omicron variant is more contagious than other types, but generally less deadly for vaccinated people without underlying conditions.

Thoughthis wave has peaked, thislevel of spread puts vulnerable peopleat risk. Some delayedsurgeriescan now resume.

• 'High anxiety' for immunocompromisedpeopleas Ontario lifts more restrictions

Health officials say people should recommit to the fundamentals of getting allvaccine doses as they're eligible for andstaying homewhen sick.

Masks, preferably medicalones, aremandatory in indoor public settingsin Ontarioand in Quebec for peopleage 10 and up. They're generallyrecommended in crowded outdoor areas.

Ontarioand Quebec allow some people to self-isolate for just five days under certain circumstances. Quebec allows even less with some recent infections.

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditionsgethelp with errands and have supplies in case they need to isolate.

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

Travel

Travellers olderthan 12 years and four months mustbe fully vaccinatedto board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada.

The federal governmentno longer officially advises against non-essential international travel.

People have to befullyvaccinated,pre-approved, asymptomaticand test negativeto enterCanada. Travellerscan now take an authorizedrapid test instead.

The U.S.requiresall adults crossing aland, air or water border to be fully vaccinated. People flying there will need proof of a negative COVID-19 test within a dayof departure.

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

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 havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada, with some age restrictions.

Both local provinces generally recommend doses for kids age five to 11 be given at least eight weeks apartfor the best possible protection.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. Experts doagree people shouldn't get it until they're feeling recovered.

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

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 dose. Third doses are available foreveryone age 12 to 17once168 days have passed since their second dose.

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

Local health units have some flexibility,so check their websitesfor details. Many offer child-only clinicsand limited walk-ins.

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

Western Quebec

Those who are eligible can get an appointmentor visitapermanent 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.

Health Canada has approved Pfizer's COVID-19prescription treatment Paxlovid.Ontario andQuebec are using it at first on adultsat risk of severe COVID-19 problems.

If you have severe symptoms, call 911.

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.

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

Onlystudents and teachers who show symptoms at schoolwill have access to PCRtests.Rapid and take-home testsare available for the general public at participating stores andinsome child-care settings when risk is high.

Travellers who need a testhavelocal options to pay for one.

In western Quebec:

Quebec has also stopped givingPCR tests to the general public.

PCR tests will be reserved for high-risk settings such as hospitals, long-term care homes, detention centres and homeless shelters.

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 613-740-0999 for service, including testing andvaccines, in Inuktitut or English on weekdays.

Akwesasne has COVID-19 test andvaccineinformation online or at613-575-2341. There's helpfor people who need essentials while isolating.TheneighbouringSaint Regis Mohawk Tribe is also offering tests.

It has had more than 1,850 residents test positive forCOVID-19and has reported19deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

People in Kitigan ZibiAnishinabeg can call the COVID hotline at 819-449-8085for a test on Wednesdaysif they qualify. Otherwise, rapid tests are available at the health centre.

Ithad more than 150confirmed casesandone death as of mid-January, and152 of those cases are since 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 had100 confirmed cases as of Feb. 18.

Anyone inTyendinagawho's interested in a testcan call its community health team at613-967-3603, text it at 613-686-5510 or send it an email.It had91confirmed casesand two deaths until it paused sharing its count in early January 2022.