Ontario residents can expect the current pandemic restrictions to continue on for the time being as the province's chief medical officer announced Tuesday that he is pausing Ontario's exit from the Roadmap to Reopen plan.
Dr. Kieran Moore, the chief medical officer of health, said he is taking action to increase protection against COVID-19 for the most vulnerable citizens, which include seniors, people who are immunocompromised and children.
Moore said this would include stricter mandatory vaccine policies.
Moore also explained that Ontario is "pausing" the process of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario. He said that's because Ontario needs more residents to get vaccinated. Moore said one of the reasons is that the Delta Variant is getting out of control.
In the media question period, Moore was asked why Ontario waited so long to take strong action, especially with the opening of schools happening in just a few weeks. Moore said it is because the evidence is that the pandemic is worsening in Ontario "and we've learned more about the threat of Delta.”
Moore said more than 90 per cent of all new COVID-19 cases are testing positive for the Delta Variant.
"That is why I am issuing a directive to require COVID-19 immunization policies in hospitals, home- and community-service providers, and ambulance services," said Moore.
He said the directive, effective Sept. 7, would require workers to:
- Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or;
- Provide documented proof of a medical reason for not being vaccinated, or;
- Take specific education programs outlining the benefits of vaccinations, or;
- If the person still chooses no vaccine, submit to regular rapid antigen testing.
"As the return to school approaches, vaccination policies in our education sector will be crucial as we look to minimize the impact that COVID-19 could have on our children, youth and young adults," said Moore.
He said in support of the provincial return-to-school plan, Moore said the ministry of education is finalizing a vaccination policy for all publicly funded school board employees, as well as staff in licensed child care settings with rapid testing requirements for staff who are not fully immunized.
Moore said the government is also moving toward mandatory vaccination policies in post-secondary settings as well. He said this follows what he called "the great work" of many post-secondary institutions that have already announced mandatory vaccine policies.
This was announced in Sudbury this week when Laurentian University announced it is implementing a mandatory vaccine policy for everyone who attends on campus; faculty, staff and students. LU said this includes similar policies put in place by Cambrian College and Collège Boréal.
Moore also reported that Ontario will offer a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines to a limited number of Ontario residents who have unique medical conditions that leave them immune-challenged and also to residents of high-risk congregate settings, such as some long-term care homes, some retirement homes and some Indigenous elder care lodges.
In another question, Moore was asked why he was moving ahead with the new directives without any information coming from the Premier's office or cabinet.
Moore responded that as the chief medical officer for Ontario he has the authority and the duty to issue directives relating to any acute care or chronic care situation.
Moore added that he has had discussions with the premier and cabinet and has the full support of the government. He also said he does not expect things to improve quickly and his office needs to take strong action now.
"We are preparing aggressively for the fall. I am sorry to say I think it is going to be a difficult fall and winter, and hence the reason we are putting these policies in place."
Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com. The LJI program is made possible with support from the federal government.
