What you need to know about COVID-19 in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sept. 8

Recent developments:

• Ottawa reports32 more cases of COVID-19 Wednesday.
• Ontario's COVID-19 testing system braces for the return of school.
• Ottawa city councillors will debate their vaccine policy today.

What's the latest?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported 32 more COVID-19 cases Wednesday, as well as its largest outbreak and highest test positivity rate of the summer.

Although Ontario is launching a new take-home COVID-19 testing project this week for some schools,the government is facing criticism that the program is too limited.

Ottawa Public Health has saiditcan handle testing demands.

Today Ottawa city councillors will debate whether to extend the city's staff vaccine policy to themselves.

How many cases are there?

As of Wednesday,28,642Ottawa residents havetested positive for COVID-19.There are 288known active cases, 27,761 cases consideredresolved, and 593 people who have died from the illness.

Public health officials have reported more than51,400 COVID-19 cases across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, including more than50,500cases now resolved.

Elsewhere in eastern Ontario, 200 people with COVID-19 have died. In western Quebec, the death toll is 215. Two COVID-19 deaths werereported in the region in August.

Akwesasnehas had more than 760residents test positive forCOVID-19, and has reported10 deathsbetween its northern and southern sections.

Kitigan Zibi has had 34 cases and one death. Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory has had 13, 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. Its science table says more vaccinations and fewer contacts are needed to avoid a lockdown this autumn.

Ontario's vaccine passport system starts Sept. 22 for many activities. People will have to show photo identification and either a paper or PDF version of their vaccine receipt until an app is ready, likely in late October.

In the meantime, COVID-19 vaccines are becoming mandatory for many activities and services.

• Here are the noteworthy vaccine policies for Ottawa-Gatineau

Ontario allowsindoor dining, with capacity limits based ondistancing. Gyms,movie theatres and museumscan reach acapacity of 50 per cent inside.

Quebec takes a hard line against unvaccinated health workers

3 years ago

Duration 1:16

The Quebec government will suspend any health or social service employee without pay who is not vaccinated by Oct. 15, says the province's health minister, Christian Dub. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

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

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

Western Quebec

Western Quebec is now undergreen zone restrictions, the lowest on the province'sfour-colour scale.

The physical distancinglength in the provincehas been reduced toone metre.

Ten people are allowed to gatherinside private residences and 20 people outdoors which increases to 50 if playing sports. Organized events can be much larger.

Thisprovince's school plansdon't includeclassroom bubbles but now includemasks in class for students.

A vaccine passportis in place for people age 13 and up in spaces such aspublic events, bars, restaurants and gyms. There's an adjustment period, so rules won't be enforced until Sept. 15.

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.

WATCH |Quebec gives health-care workers deadline to get fully vaccinated:

Stittsville parent worried about physical distancing at overcrowded elementary school

3 years ago

Duration 1:15

Melanie Aumont, whose two children are in junior kindergarten and Grade 3, says shes worried about how COVID-19 prevention measures will work at Westwind Public School, which is projected to have 960 students in a building meant for only 628.

What can I do?

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.

WATCH |Parents worry about distancing atschool at 150% capacity:

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 without offering total protection. There'sfederal guidance for what vaccinated people can do in different situations.

Fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residentscan nowskip the 14-day quarantinewhen travelling back to Canada. Peoplehaveto show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter Canada by land without a fine.

Fully vaccinated travellers from across the globe can now visit Canadawithout having to quarantine. The U.S. border remains closed to non-essential land travel until at least Sept. 21.

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.

Vaccines

Four COVID-19 vaccines havebeen deemed safe and approvedin Canada. Three are in use, with twoapproved for youthas young as 12.

Canada's vaccinetask force sayspeople can wait up to 16 weeks between first and seconddoses. Factors pushed provinces to drastically speed up that timeline, including supply and the more infectious delta variant.

That same task force says it's safe and effective to mix first and second doses.

Ontario is giving certain groups third doses and Quebec's vaccine task force has recommended the same.

There have been more than3.3million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the wider Ottawa-Gatineau region combined first and second doses which has about 2.3 million residents.

Eastern Ontario

Ontario isvaccinating anyone who will beage12 or older in 2021. Third booster shotdetails dependon the health unit.

Peoplecanlook for provincialappointments opening uponlineor over the phone at 1-833-943-3900. Pharmacies continue to offer vaccines through their own booking systems, as do some family doctors.

Local health units haveflexibilityin the larger framework, including around booking,so check their websitesfor details. They offer standby lists and walk-indoses on short notice.

Campaigns are shiftingaway from mass clinics to mobile clinics to target those who haven't yet received those first dose, or can now get their second shot.

Western Quebec

Quebec isvaccinating anyone 12 and older. Its goal is to provide second doses four weeks after the first.

People who qualify can make an appointment online or over the phoneor visit one of the province'spermanent and mobile walk-in clinics.

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 testshouldmake an appointment. Check with yourhealth unit for clinic locations and hours.

Ontariorecommends only getting testedif you fit certain criteria, such as having symptoms, exposure or a certain job.

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People without symptomsbut who arepart of the province's targeted testing strategycan make an appointment at select pharmacies. Rapid testsare available in some places.

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 and check wait times online. Some walk-in testing is available.

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

People in Kitigan Zibican 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. 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.