What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Saturday, Oct. 9

Recent developments:

• Ontario's concert venues, theatres and cinemas return to 100 per cent capacity starting today.
• The Ottawa Senators can play in front of a full arena when the NHL season gets underway.
• Ottawa reports 48 more COVID-19 cases.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported 48more COVID-19 cases Saturday and no more deaths.

Starting today, Ontario has returned select spaceswhere proof of COVID-19 vaccination is already required to 100 per cent capacity.

Capacity limits are lifted for:

• Concert venues, theatres and cinemas.
• Spectator areas of facilities for sports and recreational fitness (butnot for gyms orpersonal training).
• Meeting and event spaces (indoor spaces will still need to limit capacity to the number that can maintain physical distancing).
• Horseracing tracks, car racing tracks, and other similar venues.
• Commercial film and television productions with studio audiences.

The Ottawa Senators will also be able to play in front of a full arenawhen the NHLseason gets underway later this month.

Capacity limits remain in effect for all other settings.

How many cases are there?

As of Saturday,Ottawa has a total of 30,231cases ofCOVID-19.There are 338known active cases, 29,295 cases are consideredresolved, and 598people have died from the illness.

Public health officials have reported more than55,600 COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than 53,800cases now resolved.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 206people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 222.

Akwesasnehas had more than 950residents test positive forCOVID-19and has reported10 deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeghas had 34 cases and one death. Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory has had 20, 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 are the rules?

Eastern Ontario:

Ontario is inStep 3 of its reopening planand will stay there for the foreseeable future.Itsvaccine passport systemisin place at least until the spring.

General gathering limits are 25 people inside and 100 people outside. Those limits are even higher for organized events.

People age 12 and up have to show photo identification and either a paper or PDF version of their vaccine receiptfor many activities until an app is ready, likely in late October. There will bemedical exemptions.

Other groups are also coming out with their own COVID-19 vaccine policies, including for staff.

• Here are the noteworthy vaccine policies for Ottawa-Gatineau
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Indoor dining capacityis based ondistancing. Gyms,movie theatres and museumscan reach acapacity of 50 per cent inside.

Ontario's back-to-school rulesallowforextracurricular activities, and while masks remainmandatory, vaccines are not. School boards can go beyond these rules.

Western Quebec

Under its green zone rules, 10people are allowed to gatherinside private residences and 20 people outdoors which increases to 50 if playing sports.

There are no longer capacity limits for Quebec venues with assigned seats.

School rulesinclude masks in class forstudents, but don't includeclassroom bubbles.

A vaccine passportis in place for people age 13 and up in spaces such aspublic events, bars, restaurants and gyms.

Quebecers can use an app or show paper proof; people from out of province will have to show paper proof.Everyone will also have to show ID.

As in Ontario, there are medical exemptions.

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. Variants of concernaremore contagious and areestablished.

This means it isimportantto take precautions now and in the future, such asstaying 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 Quebecand recommended in crowded outdoor areas.

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

There'sfederal guidance for what vaccinated people can do in different situations.

This year health leaders in the area generally say smallerThanksgiving and Halloween gatherings are allowedwith precautionsfor the unvaccinated and/or vulnerable. Guidance is stricter in select areas where COVID-19 is spreading more than others, such asAkwesasne and Tyendinaga.

Health Canada recommends older adults and people with underlying medical conditionsgethelp with errands.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate, as should those who've beenordered to do so by their public health unit. The length of self-isolation varies inQuebecandOntario.

Travel

All would-be travellers mustbe fully vaccinated by Oct. 30 to board a plane, train or marine vessel in Canada.

• Your questions answered about proof-of-vaccination requirements for travel

Fully vaccinated,tested and pre-approved peoplecan cometo Canada.

The U.S. land border will remain closed to Canadians until at least Oct. 21 and as of early November, the U.S. will requireall foreign nationals flying into the country to be fully vaccinated.

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada and are now going by brand names instead of manufacturer names.

The two most commonareapproved for youthas young as 12. Pfizer and BioNTech havesubmittedhave submitted preliminary trial data for their COVID-19 shot for younger kidsto Health Canada.

Canada's vaccinetask force sayspeople can wait as little as three to four weeks and up to 16 weeks between first and seconddoses.

That same task force says it's safe and effective to mix first and second doses.Ontario and Quebec aregiving certain groups third doses.

There have been more than 3.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region combined first,second and third doses which has about 2.3 million residents.

Eastern Ontario

Ontario isvaccinating anyone whowill beage12 or older in 2021. Peoplecanlook for provincialappointments opening uponlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900.

It's recommended people age 18 to 24 get the Pfizer-BioNTech, or Comirnaty, vaccine because the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine brings a mild risk of a rareheart condition.

Local health units haveflexibilityin the larger framework, including around booking,so check their websitesfor details.

They offer doses on short notice ascampaignsshiftfrom mass clinics to mobile clinics to fill gaps in vaccine coverage.

Thirdshotdetails dependon the health unit.

Pharmacies continue to offer vaccines through their own booking systems, as do some family doctors.

Western Quebec

Anyone 12 and oldercan make an appointment online or over the phoneor visitapermanent ormobile walk-in clinic.

Symptoms and testing

COVID-19can range from a cold-like illnessto a severe lung infection, with common symptoms including fever, a cough,runny nose,headache, vomitingand 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.

In eastern Ontario:

Anyone seeking a testcan make an appointment. Check with yourhealth unit for clinic locations and hours.

• What's open and closed this Thanksgiving weekend in Ottawa

Ontariosays to only gettestedif you fit certain criteria, such as having symptoms, exposure or a certain job.

People without symptomsbut who arepart of the province's targeted testing strategycan make an appointment at select pharmacies. Rapid testsare available in some places,including some child-care settings when risk is high.

Travellers who need a testhave a fewlocal options to pay for one.

In western Quebec:

Tests are strongly recommended for people with symptoms and their contacts.

People can make an appointment or see what their walk-in options are online. They can also call 1-877-644-4545 with questions.

Rapid COVID-19 tests are available in elementary schools in the Outaouais for students with symptoms.

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 COVID-19 test andvaccine clinics, with information online or at613-575-2341.

People in Kitigan ZibiAnishinabeg can call the health centre at 819-449-5593 for a test or vaccine; email is another option for vaccine booking.

Tests are available inPikwkanagnby calling613-625-1175 and vaccines, at 613-625-2259 extension 225 or by email. Anyone inTyendinagawho's interested in a test can call 613-967-3603 and should watch the website fordedicated vaccine clinics.

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.