Here's what you need to know about COVID-19 gathering restrictions in Ottawa during the holiday season
Tis the season for holiday gatherings.
Social gatherings are currently allowed in Ottawa this holiday season, one year after Ontarians could only celebrate with members of their same household due to COVID-19 restrictions.
"I want to caution everyone to proceed with vigilance this holiday season," said medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches in a statement.
"Assess the risk of those with whom you are gathering. Consider everyone’s vaccination status. If you choose to attend a larger gathering with others, maintain a physical distance and wear a mask when this might be difficult."
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at the social gathering rules and guidance from Ottawa Public Health for holiday events in Ottawa.
SOCIAL GATHERING LIMITS
Ottawa
As of Sunday, Dec. 19, indoor social gatherings at private residences are permitted up to 10 people
Outdoor social gatherings at private residences are permitted up to 25 people.
Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington
If you are travelling to Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington for the holidays, there are new limits on gatherings due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Indoor private gatherings are capped at 5 people.
Gatineau
If you have plans to attend Christmas and New Year's events in Gatineau, a maximum of 10 people are permitted to gather indoors.
The Quebec government also introduced new restrictions including closing bars, taverns, casinos, theatres, gyms and schools, and reducing capacity at restaurants.
INDOOR GATHERING TIPS
Ottawa Public Health issued the following tips to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 during indoor gatherings.
- If all guests are fully vaccinated, you may consider removing your mask if everyone is comfortable
- If you are gathering with people from multiple households who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, wear a mask and physically distance
- Wash your hands frequently
- Open windows, if possible
- If you start to feel symptoms of COVID-19, and are hosting a gathering, cancel or postpone to a later date or until you have tested negative and you have not had any symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 24 hours
- If one of your guests has symptoms during or after your gathering, have the guest safely leave your gathering
GATHERING AT A RESTAURANT, BUSINESS OR YOUR WORKPLACE
Eastern Ontario's medical officer of health says he's comfortable with people attending a holiday gathering at a restaurant or bar since everyone will be fully vaccinated.
"The passport allows you to do that. So yes, I am comfortable but you need to be comfortable yourself," said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis during an interview on Newstalk 580 CFRA.
"If you have underlying medical conditions or if you're in a category that perhaps the vaccine hasn't worked effectively, perhaps you should be not going there at this point. It’s a personal decision and also a decision that you have to make on behalf of your family members as well."
Ottawa Public Health says if you attend a festive event at a business or your workplace, you must:
- Follow the applicable provincial restrictions for that setting, such as rules for restaurants, bars or meeting and event spaces.
- Follow the advice and guidance outlined in the hosting social gatherings section above.
- Workplaces should choose venues with sufficient space for physical distancing.
Under Ontario's proof of vaccination system, you must show proof of full vaccination and ID to enter indoor areas of restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments.
OUTDOOR GATHERING TIPS
"Celebrating the holidays outdoors can be done safely and is likely safer than indoor activities," said Ottawa Public Health.
The health unit offers tips to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission during outdoor events.
- When gathering outdoors with a group of fully vaccinated individuals, no mask or physical distancing is necessary
- If you are gathering with people from multiple households who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, consider wearing a mask if physical distancing cannot be maintained
- Stay home if you are feeling ill, even with mild symptoms, or if you are in quarantine or self-isolating
- Avoid high-touch surfaces and wash your hands often
If you plan on attending an in-person outdoor organized public event, the health unit recommends:
- Avoid crowds as much as possible and maintain a physical distance of two metres from others who are not from your household
- If you are unable to maintain 2 metres of physical distance from another individual who is not part of your household then you must wear a mask
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
Majority of Canadians believe in life after death: Angus Reid survey
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.
MyPillow, owned by U.S. election denier Mike Lindell, formally evicted from Minnesota warehouse
A court ordered the eviction Wednesday of MyPillow from a suburban Minneapolis warehouse that it formerly used.