Another Ontario Spot Has Put More Health Measures Back Due To Growing COVID-19 Cases
Capacity limits and stricter masking will kick into effect in the area on November 17.
Yet another public health unit in Ontario is reinstating some of its public health measures due to increasing COVID-19 concerns in the area.
"In response to rapidly rising COVID-19 cases in Algoma, and especially in the municipality of Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Public Health is taking further action to curb the spread of the virus, prevent severe illness and death in our communities, and protect [our] health system capacity," health officials of the health unit said in a November 15 news release.
With the support of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, Algoma's medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Loo, is putting a few actions back into place — and some of them even come with hefty fines.
"To date, the surge has been primarily located in Sault Ste Marie with over 85% of cases in the past 7 days occurring within the city," Dr. Loo wrote in the instructions laid out for Algoma Public Health. "Transmission is occurring throughout the community in workplaces, schools, sport and recreational settings, health care settings, and within vulnerable populations. Since no single setting or sector is driving the increase, broad measures are required to reduce the number of contacts people have with one another."
Anyone who either has or thinks that they have COVID-19 will have to isolate. This also applies to those who are identified as a close contact with someone who has contracted the virus. Anyone who doesn't follow this legal order could get hit with a fine of $750. If they get caught and continue on with breaking the rules, they could face a fine of up to $5,000 for each day or each part of the day they continue to break the rules on conviction.
Starting on November 17, businesses and organizations in Sault Ste. Marie will have to put back capacity limits and social distancing requirements that were just recently lifted by the Ontario government. This measure also applies to all of the businesses that chose to opt-in for proof of vaccination. They will also be responsible for implementing stricter masking requirements both indoors and outdoors.
Lastly, starting November 19, anyone 12-years-old and older will have to show their proof of vaccination and a government-issued I.D. when they're hitting up an indoor venue that's actively involved with an organized sport, whether that means you're part of the team or a spectator in the stands. This does not apply to organized school sports unless they're being played off of school grounds.
Earlier this month, Sudbury had to reintroduce some "time-limited measures" like capacity limits and social distancing requirements due to its rapidly growing COVID-19 spread in its region. Health Minister Christine Elliott said that local public health units might have to do this too as an increase in cases is expected in the upcoming cold winter months.