Government Announcements
Ontario Releases Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has released A Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term, which outlines the province’s gradual approach to lifting remaining public health and workplace safety measures by March 2022. The plan will be guided by the ongoing assessment of key public health and health care indicators and supported by local or regional tailored responses to COVID-19.
Effective October 25, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario will lift capacity limits in the vast majority of settings where proof of vaccination are required, such as restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments; indoor areas of sports and recreational facilities such as gyms and where personal physical fitness trainers provide instruction; casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and indoor meeting and event spaces. Limits will also be lifted in certain outdoor settings.
At this time, the government will also allow other settings to lift capacity limits and physical distancing requirements if they choose to require proof of vaccination. More details with dates of each stage of opening can be found in the press release.
You can see the plan HERE
You can see the full press release HERE
Enhanced COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate with QR Code and Verify Ontario App Available for Download
The enhanced vaccine certificates are available for download. Enhanced vaccine certificates with official QR codes can be downloaded from the COVID-19 vaccination portal.
Businesses and organizations can download the free Verify Ontario app from the Apple App and Google Play stores.
Workplace Safety Plan Builder Now Available
The Workplace Safety Plan Builder (the builder) has been released. The builder is an online, interactive platform that will make it easier and faster for employers to create a workplace safety plan to address the risks of exposures to workplace hazards like COVID-19.
The workplace safety plan builder can be found at Ontario.ca/COVIDSafety, along with the existing safety plan guide and other helpful resources for businesses.
Ontario Providing Financial Relief to Employers
Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is cutting premium rates in 2022 by $168 million, bringing the total reduction in premiums since 2018 to $2.4 billion. In addition, the government is intending to introduce legislation that, if passed, would allow for a significant portion of the WSIB’s current reserve, currently valued at $6.1 billion, to be distributed to safe employers. This proposed change would help employers cope with the impacts of COVID-19.
To prevent some businesses from having to pay thousands of dollars a year in additional premiums, Ontario is capping the growth of premiums to an increase of 3.2 per cent (close to the normal range) through a regulation under the Workplace Safety and Amendment Act.
Minimum Wage Rates in Ontario have Increased
Just a reminder that effective October 1, 2021, the minimum wage rates in Ontario have increased. To view the new rates, visit Ontario.ca/minimumwage.
Huron Perth Pulic Health Updates
HPPH Employer Reccomendations, FAQs and Buisness Toolkit
Updated recommendations for employers have been added to the HPPH website. These recommendations replace Dr. Klassen’s previous Letter of Instruction (issued November 2020). The following resources have been added to the website;
Covid - Age 12 and Up - Instruction for Sports and Recreational Facilities
HPPH, along with the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health, announced additional proof of vaccination requirements for recreational facilities used for organized sports.
- As of Oct. 31, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for anyone over the age of 12 who enters an indoor area of a sports or recreational fitness facility to participate in, coach, officiate, or watch organized sport.
- The decision to extend the requirement to anyone attending these facilities and to a younger age group involved in organized sport was made due to the nature of sport and fitness activities, which can create opportunities for COVID-19 to spread more easily. These factors include close contact among participants, forceful exhalation (heavy breathing) and increased respiratory rate, prolonged exposure, crowded indoor spaces and the removal of masks/face coverings during physical activity.
- The goal with the instructions is to allow for a more typical sports season and to limit disruptions resulting from confirmed cases and high-risk exposures. These additional protective measures will make it safer for everyone entering a facility for organized sports, whether to play, practice, coach, volunteer, or watch.
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Letters of Instruction have been shared with owners/operators of sports and recreational facilities within Huron Perth where organized sports are played. More information and the full letter can be found on our website.
- On October 8, the Instructions were revised to include the following points of clarification:
- For youth turning 12 starting in January 1, 2022, at this time they may have an 8-week grace period to become fully vaccinated. Starting April 2022, all children turning 12 must be fully vaccinated. This direction is based on the premise that children turning 12 in 2022 will become eligible on January 1, 2022; this direction may be revised as additional Ministry direction is received.
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Municipalities/facilities were required to develop and implement a vaccination policy for facility staff, contractors and/or subcontractors and volunteers in the original Instructions. The revised Instructions keep this requirement and direct operators to the vaccine policy information in HPPH’s Letter of Recommendation for workplaces and employers.
HPPH Enacts Mandatory Vaccincation Policies for Hospital Visitors
More than a dozen hospitals across Ontario are implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for visitors, in addition to mandates for their staff. Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance says it will require family and caregivers to be fully vaccinated starting Nov. 1, with some exceptions in place. You can read about this new policy HERE.
