City of Ottawa - Ottawa Public Health announces capacity limits and additional public health measures

 Ottawa Public Health announced today that, in response to rapidly increasing transmission of COVID-19 in Ottawa and the increased transmissibility of Omicron, it is taking additional and immediate action to limit further spread of the virus to protect residents and reduce the impact on our health care resources and essential services. These actions are detailed in a Letter of Instruction from Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health. The instructions are effective Monday, December 20 at 12:01 am.

The enhanced measures include:

• Indoor capacity is limited to 50% or less if needed to maintain at least two metres between people
• Capacity and distancing requirements are applicable regardless of whether the establishment checks proof of vaccination
• Signage must be posted in a conspicuous location, visible to the public, that states the capacity limits

These measures apply to a broad range of establishments, including those below. A full list is in the Letter of Instruction.

• Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
• Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
• Personal care services, such as hair salons and barbershops, manicure and pedicure salons, aesthetician services, piercing services, tanning salons, spas and tattoo studios
• Indoor recreational amenities and indoor facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including areas for spectators within those facilities
• Indoor clubhouses affiliated with outdoor recreational amenities
• Indoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas
• Museums, galleries and similar attractions
• Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
• Indoor fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals and similar events
• Faith-based organizations and places of worship

Establishments that serve food or beverages must follow these additional regulations:

• Patrons must be seated at all times when eating or drinking
• No more than six people seated per table

In addition to the regulations outlined in the Letter of Instruction, Ottawa Public Health also strongly recommends these measures:

• Keep indoor gatherings in private settings as small as possible
• Limit the total number of people you come in close contact with this holiday season
• Suspend indoor sports and team play temporarily
• Do not attend large venues, and if you choose to do this, wear a mask at all times
• Employers should advise their employees to work from home if possible, as was recently recommended by the Province
• If you are a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case but have not yet been contacted by public health, please self-isolate and get tested
• If you are waiting for test results, isolate – do not attend school, sports or any extracurricular activities

Ottawa is in a much better position than in March of 2020 when we faced the initial surge of COVID-19, with an unimmunized population and incomplete knowledge of all the measures possible to limit transmission. Immunity is building effectively through our vaccination efforts but right now these enhanced measures are essential to protect the health of all Ottawa residents and our health care system.

Ottawa Public Library hours during the holidays

 Ottawa Public Library will be closed for statutory holidays Saturday December 25 (Christmas Day), Sunday December 26 (Boxing Day) and Saturday January 1 (New Year’s Day). 

However, all branches normally open on Fridays will be open from 10 to 3 pm on Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31. 

The Metcalfe branch will be open from 10 to 2 pm on Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31. 

Please note that the following branches will be CLOSED on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as they are not open on Fridays.   

• Constance Bay  
• Fitzroy Harbour  
• Munster 
• North Gower  
• Osgoode  
• Vernon 

Although the branches will be closed during this time, online services are always available at https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en. 

Please check the OPL website for information about hours and location.  
 
For the latest updates about current service levels at OPL, please visit our website  https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/current-branch-services.

City of Ottawa - Special advisory: winter weather parking ban to be lifted at 7 pm

 

The winter weather parking ban will end at 7 pm today, Monday, December 6.

Be in the know about snow

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @ottawacity to receive updates or subscribe to our electronic email alerts. If you subscribe to e-Alerts, you will receive notification each time a winter weather parking ban is put in place, extended or lifted. There is no charge for this service, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up today at ottawa.ca.

Residents can also download the City of Ottawa app on their Android or Apple device to receive up-to-date information on winter parking bans and other City news.

For more winter parking information, please visit Ottawa.ca/winter or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City of Ottawa - Special advisory: daytime winter weather parking ban in effect on Monday, December 6 from 10 am to 7 pm

 

Due to weather conditions, a daytime winter weather parking ban will be in effect on Monday, December 6 between 10 am and 7 pm across Ottawa. These hours might be extended if additional time is needed to complete winter road operations.

During a winter weather parking ban, parking is prohibited on city streets so crews can plow easily and effectively. Vehicles parked on the street during a ban may be ticketed and towed. On-street monthly parking permit holders are exempt from this restriction when they are parked in residential parking permit zones.

Available parking

During winter weather parking bans, residents will have access to select OC Transpo park and rides as well as certain recreation centres. Visit ottawa.ca/winter for more information about which City facilities are available during winter weather parking bans.

Commercial main streets

To help residents shop local, some commercial main streets are exempt from winter parking bans. When a parking ban is called during winter weather events, residents can park in the identified areas (view maps), while observing all posted signage and pay and display requirements

Be in the know about snow

• Subscribe to our electronic email alerts. If you subscribe to e-Alerts, you will receive notification each time a winter weather parking ban is put in place, extended or lifted. There is no charge for this service, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive updates
• Residents can also download the City of Ottawa app on their Android or Apple device to receive up-to-date information on winter parking bans and other City news.

For more winter parking information, please visit ottawa.ca/winter.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City of Ottawa - Expanded eligibility - Third dose of COVID-19 vaccines available starting December 13 to residents aged 50 and older

 Starting Monday, December 13 at 8 am, individuals aged 50 and over (born in 1971 or earlier) will be eligible to schedule a third dose (booster) appointment if at least 6 months (168 days) have passed since their last dose. This aligns with the recent provincial announcement on expanded eligibility and provides Ottawa residents with an extra layer of protection against COVID-19 and its variants.

Individuals already eligible for booster doses, who can book an appointment now, include:

• Individuals aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier)
• Health care workers
• Staff and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (such as long-term care and retirement homes)
• Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine)
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults (16 and over) and their non-Indigenous household members.

Ottawa residents who meet the criteria are encouraged to reach out to local pharmacies using the provincial pharmacy locator to find those that provide the booster dose. Some primary care physicians are also providing boosters.

While Ottawa Public Health continues to focus on the implementation of the vaccine for the five to 11 population, additional appointments are being allocated at its community clinics for December to support the increased vaccination demand for adult boosters. Eligible residents can book an appointment at a community clinic through the Provincial COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Drop-in spots are limited, so it is recommended to book an appointment. Please note for newly eligible adults aged 50 and older, booking will begin on Monday, December 13 at 8 am.

The province announced on December 2, 2021 that a limited supply of the single dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine will be available to individuals aged 18 and over who have an allergy or contraindication to mRNA vaccines or at the request of an individual who has not yet been vaccinated. Ottawa Public Health is not currently offering this vaccine but looks forward to implementing its use in its clinics. More details will be available on how to access this vaccine in the weeks to follow.

Visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVID19 to learn more about COVID-19, how you can protect yourself and others and what to do if you suspect you may be infected with the virus. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

City of Ottawa - Registration dates, Santa Claus and live shows!

 

Winter registration dates

Our winter programs are on their way. The City of Ottawa will be offering fun activities including swimming, skating, fitness, arts, general interest, inclusive recreation, and much more. The City’s virtual programming will also continue for those who wish to enjoy a class from the comfort of their own home. Dates to remember: Wednesday, December 1 – eGuides will be online for you to browse Monday, December 6 at 9 pm – Aquatics registration Wednesday, December 8 at 9 pm – Registration for all other programs.

Virtual calls with Santa

The virtual programming team is bringing the big guy in red straight to your screen! Register today for a ZOOM call with Santa himself. It’s free to register and you will receive a photo from your call to your email. Calls are running now until December 19. Register by visiting ottawa.ca/virtualprograms click on "Activity Search", then advanced search on the left and side and type Santa. Book with your City account or create one and enjoy the magic of the holidays.

Back to Live!

Looking for some live, on-stage entertainment? Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe and Shenkman Arts Centre has launched their 2021-22 season with everything from comedy to music to dance to family shows and much more!

City of Ottawa - Accessibility Spotlight - November 2021

 

United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities Event

The City of Ottawa is hosting an event to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 10-11:30am. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the event will be hosted virtually on Zoom. Please join Deputy Mayor Laura Dudas, City Councillors, senior leaders, staff and residents in observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations theme for 2021 is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.” Deputy Mayor Dudas will provide remarks and a proclamation of observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Jeff Willbond, the Director General of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, will then provide an update on the Accessible Canada Act and Jeff Poirier, Acting Director of the Policy, Education, Monitoring and Outreach Branch, of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, will speak to the impacts of COVID-19 on people with disabilities and Human Rights in Ontario.   Please register Online by December 1st at 12:00 p.m. To promote the inclusion of all participants, American Sign Language (ASL), langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) and continuous real-time captioning will be provided for the event. Simultaneous French translation will also be available. When you register, please advise if you require any additional disability-related accommodations to participate in the event.

2021 E-Scooter Pilot Survey

The 2021 e-scooter pilot season ends on November 30th. This year’s end-of-season survey is now available on the City of Ottawa E-scooter webpage. Whether you have used the shared e-scooters or not, please send us your feedback by filling out the survey. The survey deadline is Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

OC Transpo to offer customers unlimited no-charge transit in December

OC Transpo will be offering unlimited no-charge service on all forms of transit (buses, O-Train and Para Transpo) to customers in December, in recognition of the considerable disruption faced by transit users following the suspension of O-Train Line 1 service. OC Transpo is making unlimited no-charge transit in December as easy as possible for customers: From December 1 to 31, fare gates at all O-Train stations will be opened and fare boxes and smartcard readers on all OC Transpo buses will be covered. Monthly December passes will not be sold. Presto customers with auto-renew subscriptions will see a one-cent charge which will be credited back to their account. U-Pass customers or customers with a school board issued pass do not need to tap their card at O-Train stations or on OC Transpo buses. All Para Transpo trips during December will be at no charge. Regular fares continue to apply to transit customers travelling on the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) system. Customers who had a monthly pass on their Presto card in November and U-Pass customers should tap their card as they board but no charges will be applied. Other customers will need to pay the applicable STO fare. Customers who have questions can visit octranspo.com or call 613-560-5000 for more information and can use the OC Transpo Travel Planner to plan their trips.

SnowGo & SnowGo Assist

With the arrival of ice and snow, Ottawa winters can be a challenging time for seniors and people with limited mobility. The City funds two programs, Snow Go and Snow Go Assist, which help seniors and people with disabilities with their snow removal. The City partners with nine community agencies to run these two programs. The Snow Go program vets snow removal workers and matches them with seniors and people with disabilities to get their snow cleared. Residents pay the workers directly for their services. The Snow Go Assist program goes one step further and helps low-income seniors and people with disabilities with the cost of their snow removal. To be eligible for the Snow Go Assist program funding, applicants must: Be a senior of at least 60 years old or a person with a disability Have a low-income and show proof of: Annual income below $31,500 if single and below $39,200 for a household of two persons or more Eligible residents may be reimbursed up to 50 per cent of snow removal costs to a seasonal maximum. To apply, contact the partnering local agency in your area. For a list of these agencies, visit ottawa.ca/snowgo, call 3-1-1 or call 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service (VRS).