Covid-19 update: cases jump over the weekend
With 82 new Covid-19 cases over the weekend, the total number of cases in the Outaouais since the start of the pandemic reached 13,507 as of September 20. According to the Centre intégré de la santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), there were 217 active Covid-19 cases in the region at the time. With 217 deaths in the Outaouais, CISSSO officials noted that 13,073 people had recovered from the virus. Last week, 13 people were hospitalized, with six needing intensive care, and two of CISSSO’s employees were infected. Over the last week, CISSSO said it administered an average of 720 Covid-19 screening tests per day.
CISSSO said Gatineau’s urban core has accounted for the majority of coronavirus cases in the region at this point, with 10,157 cumulative cases and 140 active ones. The MRC de Papineau has had 1,514 total cases, with 41 active cases; the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau has had 567 with 10 active cases; the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais has recorded 829 cases with 18 active cases; and the MRC de Pontiac has seen 398 total cases, with five or less active cases. The origin of 22 cases had yet to be determined.
-Provincial safety regulations, vaccine passport
The provincial government is now enforcing the obligation of digital or paper-proof vaccination passports for everyone over the age 13 to engage in certain activities deemed as non-essential, such as going to restaurants, bars, gyms, and festivals, with the purpose of not spreading the virus in at-risk areas until further notice. People can access their vaccination passport by calling the general Covid-19 telephone number, by accessing the email sent confirming vaccinations or via the VaxiCode mobile phone application. Most people take a photo of the email containing the image of the “QR” code.
Still advising people to avoid unnecessary contact, current Covid-19 green zone regulations allow people to host indoor gatherings of no more than 10 people from different addresses or the maximum of three different households, with a maximum of 20 people for outdoor gatherings.
--Vaccination rollout: no appointment needed
CISSSO recommends everyone over 12 to get vaccinated. People aged 12 and 13 must have their legal guardian’s consent to be vaccinated.
Reminding to wait at least four weeks between doses, CISSSO encourages people to get vaccinated at various walk-in clinics in the region. CISSSO’s Covid-19 online self-assessment tool can be consulted by calling 1-877-644-4545 to set up an appointment within 24 hours.
