With the spread of COVID-19 in Ottawa, many residents are looking for accurate, up-to-date information on what they should be doing and how the city is responding. With new information coming out multiple times a day, it can be difficult to keep up. We have created this web page to give you the essential key messages during this pandemic, and direct you to where you need to go to get further information.
You can stay up-to-date the novel coronavirus and how Ottawa is handling it by visiting Ottawa Public Health’s website.
Vaccine Updates for City of Ottawa can be found here
Mental health services and counselling resources can be found here
What Should You Do?
If you have respiratory symptoms (such as fever, cough), please follow these directives:
- You must self-isolate for 14 days from when your symptoms started, or until 24 hours after symptoms have FULLY resolved, whichever is longer.
- You must not leave your home if you have respiratory symptoms. Call your doctor or TeleHealth at 1-866-797-0000 if you have questions.
- If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, please visit your nearest emergency department.
- If you think you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, a self assessment tool is available to help determine how to seek further care.
For individuals who are returning from travel, by federal law, you must immediately self-isolate for 14 days.
- The federal Minister of Health announced an Emergency Order requiring any person entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19.
- This also means not stopping at the grocery store or the pharmacy on the way home from the airport or the border.
- If you need groceries or other essential items, have a family member, friend or neighbour do the shopping for you and leave items at the door.
- If you have respiratory symptoms, follow the guidance in the section above.
For all residents (except those listed above)
- Practice physical (social) distancing—avoid all non-essential trips in the community.
- Household contacts (people you live with) do not need to distance from each other unless they are sick, or have returned from travel within the past 14 days.
- Ensure that you're wearing a mask whenever physical distancing is not possible and when going on essential trips.
- Cancel all group gatherings, including group/team play on sports fields.
- Connect via phone, video chat, or social media instead of in-person.
- Talk to your employer about working from home (if possible).
- Avoid visiting elderly friends or relatives unless the visit is essential.
- Keep windows down for essential community trips via taxi or rideshares.
And some special reminders for parents with children, as well as all of us as we practice physical (social) distancing:
You can go outside. It’s healthy. You can still take a walk, play with your dog outside, or kick a ball with members of your household who are already close contacts.
When outside, maintain a two-metre distance. Avoid crowds and maintain a distance of two metres (six feet) from those around you. Make an effort to step-aside, mask up, or pass others quickly and courteously on sidewalks.
Need Financial Support?
We have compiled a list of financial resources and support services offered by all three levels of government. You can access it here.
Looking to Volunteer?
If you would like to find ways to help out in your community, we are compiling a list of volunteers, which we will then share with the organizations in the city looking for help. You can sign up here.