Ontario’s top doctor says the province needs to take further action to prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, and new public health measures are now in place.
These new measures include delaying the return to in-person learning from January 3 to January 5. The announcement was made virtually by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, on December 30.
“As cases continue to rise at a rapid rate and evidence on the Omicron variant evolves, our response needs to evolve alongside other jurisdictions to ensure those living and working in our highest-risk settings are protected,” said Moore.
All schools in Ontario currently have a vaccination disclosure policy in place. Ontario adds that staff who are not immunized against COVID-19 must complete a rapid antigen test three times per week.
When school returns, all students, teachers, staff members and visitors must self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms each day before going to school, using Ontario’s COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool.
Other changes include making Ontario’s publicly funded PCR tests only be available for those with significant medical issues, who are also symptomatic or at significant risk of COVID-19 illness.
Previously, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or those who had contact with a previously confirmed case was eligible for a free PCR test at a hospital assessment centre or a pharmacy.
As well, most individuals with a positive result from a rapid test will no longer by required to get a confirmatory PCR or rapid molecular test.
For those with positive test results, only certain cases will receive contact tracing by public health staff - such as cases found within hospitals and long-term care homes. But for many other residents, they will be asked to conduct their own contract tracing.
Ontario shattered the provincial record of new COVID-19 cases on December 30, reporting over 13,800 cases. Moore notes that despite the increase in testing and associated cases, Ontario hasn’t seen a rapid increase of hospitalizations.
As well, Ontario is changing its required isolation period from 10 days down to 5 days following the onset of symptoms, as long as they are vaccinated or are under the age of 12. Their household contacts are also required to isolate with them.
However, these individuals can end isolation after five days if their symptoms are improved for at least 24 hours and all public health measures are followed. Non-household contacts are required to self-monitor for 10 days.
Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised will be required to isolate for 10 days. Individuals who work in high-risk healthcare settings are recommended to return to work after 10 days from their last exposure or symptom onset.
Ontario is also changing some capacity limits. As of December 31, Ontario is restricting spectator capacity to 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity of 1,000 people, whichever is fewer, in indoor areas for sporting events, concert venues and theatres.
As well, based on information from the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee, the province will be making fourth doses of the mRNA vaccines available to residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and other settings if it’s been at least 84 days since their third dose.
Ontario is also mandating third doses for all staff, students, volunteers, caregivers and support workers by January 28, 2022 for those currently eligible for a booster shot, and will be requiring visitors to provide proof of a booster dose once the temporary pause on visitors is lifted.