Tuesday, January 4, 2022

HELLO OTTAWA 

Happy New Lockdown!

We – like the rest of the Ontario – have moved into what the Province calls 'Modified Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopening', which means a lot of non-essential business re-closing and limiting social contact even more in order to combat the rapidly rising Omicron variant of COVID-19.

The new rules are, in part:  

• Social gatherings are now limited to 5 people inside, 10 people outside
   
• Organized Public Events are also limited to 5 people inside, but there is no limit outside assuming that social distancing and mask wearing is enforced
   
• Weddings, funerals, and religious services are limited to 50 per cent capacity of the room (indoors), and no limits outdoors if social distancing and mask wearing is enforced
   
• Retail businesses – including libraries – are limited to 50 per cent capacity
   
• Gyms and spas are closed
   
• Restaurants and bars must close their indoor dining but can still operate take out and patio dining, limited to 10 people per table
   
• Cinemas, theatres, and museums must be closed to the public.
   

The Province is also advising that employers arrange for work-from-home where they can.

This Modified Step two will be in effect from tomorrow for 21 days. If all goes well, that's January 26.

January Deals

Everything’s gloomy these days but it turns out you can still count on January sales to turn your mood around. Now is the time for shop for decor items, homegrown fashion, and more.

High End Fashion

▪️Quartz Co premium outerwear mostly made in Quebec (there are also factories in Peru and Portugal) is now 30% off. Lightweight parkas, longer coats, sporty jackets, and accessories are discounted until tonight only.

▪️Get up to 60% off Canadian designer Shan swimwear, womens’ fashions and mens’ lines. 

▪️Be ultra-organized and shop for 2022 holiday decor now, while the prices are hot. Flowers Talk Tivoli has tree decs, mantle piece stocking holders, table top ornaments, festive season flower pots, everlasting wreaths, candle holders, garland, and gift boxes on sale, staring at $3.50. 

We'll see you tomorrow– Martha and Darren

? Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at [email protected]. We read every single comment.

STATS

Weather: ❄️ 30 per cent chance of flurries. High of -4°, low of -7°

Number: 300%. The increase in share price that BluMetric Enviromental gained in 2021, leading all Ottawa headquartered public companies. [Ottawa Citizen] 

Ottawan of the Day:  Claire Hanna. The former collegiate volleyball player from Vancouver is the new Senators reporter for TSN. [Faces Magazine] 

Quote: ‘I don’t regret having done that, because I think it was done for the right reasons’ – Ottawa resident Bill Fairbairn after he confessed that 40 years ago, when he lived in Guelph, he went to the local library and destroyed a book that attempted to advise on how to make gay people straight. Fairbairn has raised $1800 for the Guelph Public Library, which says that it will purchase 80-90 books and audio/video materials. [Guelph Mercury]

Sports: NHL Ottawa Senators 0 – Toronto Maple Leafs 6, last Saturday
 

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

The only information updated since our last edition is Ottawa, all the other health units have not yet updated their info.
 

ONTARIO

No Update Today

Ontario COVID Page    Ontario Vaccine Rates 

QUEBEC

No Update Today

Quebec COVID Page     Quebec Vaccine Rates

OTTAWA

Ottawa Public Health     Ottawa Vaccination Rates.    Ottawa Wastewater 
 

OUTAOUAIS 

No Update Today

As of December 17, 2021 Updated Weekly

Outaouais Public Health    Quebec Vaccination Rates
 

EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT

No Update Today

Eastern Ontario Health Unit  Eastern Ontario Health Unit Vaccination Rates

COVID-19 NEWS

⭕ Starting today, everyone is Ontario will need to show their Ministry of Health Vaccination QR code, either on paper or on their smartphone before entering indoor dining, theatres, gyms, and other non-essential businesses. As of tomorrow, indoor dining, theatres, gyms, and other non-essential businesses will be closed for 21 days and the neccesity of the QR code will be redundant. [CityNews]

⭕ New rules for 2022 say children must be five years old before getting their first vaccine dose (the previous rule was they only had to turn five in 2021). Similarly, people must be 18 years old before getting a booster, not just turning 18 this year like before. [CBC]

⭕ The new curfew in Quebec is far less popular than the previous one, with residents complaining that it is oppressive. [CBC]

+Related Quebec does not intend to reinstate checkpoints between Ottawa and Gatineau

+ Related The Province has relented and allows dog walking during curfew 

+ Related Two men in the Outaouais were fined $1,558 each for breaking curfew

⭕ Nearly a dozen OC Transpo drivers have tested positive for COVID-19 since Dec 28. [CityNews]
 

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️The Canadian Nurses Association has left their headquarters and wants to build an 87 apartment mid-rise. The development would use the facade of the existing handsome building, although the pictures kind of remind one of the film The Blob, with the old building being absorbed by the amorphous new one. The City's planning committee has not yet considered the proposal. [Ottawa Citizen]

▪️Ottawa Rail Fans have created an interactive map of the O Train system. Click on individual stations to see photos and amenities. [Rail Fans]

▪️The Citizen has picked their favourite photos of 2021. Weirdly, they have done it as a video. [Ottawa Citizen]

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