Toronto 
Ontario today announced new measures to combat the rise of COVID-19 cases during 2021-22 season.
The measure includes taking actions to further encourage vaccination and help limit the spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.
Ontario today reported 1,453 new COVID-19 cases and during the press conference Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore said that 10 per cent of all new cases detected in Ontario were those resulting from the new Omicron variant of concern.
The province is hoping new measures will help reduce the risk of transmission during the winter months and further encourage every eligible Ontarian to get their shot so that Ontario’s hospital capacity is protected.
“As we continue to learn more about the Omicron variant, we are taking additional measures to protect our progress as we head into the winter months,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Getting vaccinated and adhering to public health and workplace safety measures will continue to protect us and our loved ones against COVID and variants, but we won’t hesitate to continue to take swift action to ensure the continued health and safety of all Ontarians.”
New Measures
- Delaying the lifting of proof of vaccination requirements beyond January 17, 2022, aligned with the reopening plan that stipulated that doing so was contingent on the absence of concerning trends.
- Effective January 4, 2022, requiring the use of the enhanced vaccine certificate with QR code and the Verify Ontario app in settings where proof of vaccination is required. The QR code can be used digitally or by printing a paper copy.
- Strengthening the verification process for medical exemptions and clinical trial exemptions by requiring a certificate with a QR code. Organizations and businesses that are under the provincial proof-of-vaccination system will be advised to no longer accept physician notes as of January 10, 2022.
- Effective December 20, 2021, requiring proof of vaccination for youth aged 12 to 17 years participating in organized sports at recreational facilities.
The province is also launching a holiday testing blitz next week to offer voluntary rapid antigen screening to asymptomatic individuals free of charge. Two million rapid tests will be provided at pop-up testing sites in high-traffic settings such as malls, retail settings, holiday markets and transit hubs.
The Chief Medical Officer of Health also strongly advised Ontarians to limit their social gatherings and the number of gatherings they attend over the holiday season. Additional precautions should be taken if all individuals are not fully vaccinated or where vaccination status is unknown.
In addition, starting on Monday, December 13, 2021 at 8:00 a.m., individuals aged 50 and over will be eligible to schedule their booster dose appointment.
The province is expanding booster dose eligibility to all Ontarians 18 years of age and older starting January 4, 2022, with appointments to be booked approximately six months after receiving a second dose.
As of December 9, 2021, over 90 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and over having received at least one dose and more than 87 per cent have received a second dose. Over 25 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received their first dose.
