Ontario Just Announced New COVID-19 Health Measures In Response To The Omicron Variant
Proof of vaccination requirements won't be lifted in January.
Well, it's now official -- the Ontario government just unveiled the new COVID-19 health measures for the province and some are coming into effect later this month.
In an announcement on December 10, Ontario revealed its plan for how to manage the new Omicron variant in the province, and several of its health measures include strengthening proof of vaccine requirements, enhancing the verification process for medical or clinical trial exemptions, and boosting its vaccine rollout for booster doses.
The Ford administration is extending the lifting of vaccine certificate requirements past January 17, which could have allowed places like restaurants, bars, casinos, bingo halls, and sports facilities to stop checking for them at their doors.
The Risks of Omicron Variant with Dr. Peter Juni youtu.be
Starting January 4, only vaccine passports with the QR code and the Verify Ontario app will be accepted as proof of vaccination (but the QR code can either be provided digitally or on a slip of paper.)
The provincial government also noted that as of December 20, kids from 12 to 17 years old will have to provide proof of vaccination when they are going to hit up a recreational facility for an organized sport they're involved in.
Come December 15, Ontario will require all Ontarians who have an eligible medical exemption - or are part of an active COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial - to sign up for an enhanced vaccine certificate that comes with a QR code.
Ontarians who fall under this bracket will have to reach out to a registered nurse or Ontarian physician so that they can submit their exemption directly to the local public health unit where their practice is located. Better get on top of it fast as starting January 10, 2022, businesses will no longer accept doctor's notes for these exemptions.
Lastly, Ontario is going to expand its vaccine rollout to provide even more booster doses for Ontarians across the province. Starting this Monday, December 13, Ontarians 50 and over can make their bookings, and then as of January 4, 2022, everyone 18 and older can start booking their third COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Earlier this week, the Ford government announced it would be pausing its reopening plan indefinitely.