‘Continued vigilance:’ Ontario extending pause on reopening plan

Ontario is extending its pause on lifting capacity limits in high-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required.

The move from the Ford government is in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer and comes as the province continues to deal with a surge in COVID-19 infections.

“We must remain cautious in the face of the virus and this pause will allow us to continue monitoring trends in public health and healthcare indicators while also learning more about the Omicron variant,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, on Tuesday.

“There’s no doubt that the months ahead will require continued vigilance.”

The settings where capacity limits will remain include, night clubs, wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces where there is dancing, strip clubs, and sex clubs and bathhouses.

The province initially intended on removing the capacity limits on those settings on Nov. 15, but paused the gradual reopening on Nov. 10 “out of an abundance of caution.”

The next step of the Ford government’s reopening plan is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 17 and could see capacity limits gradually lifted in places where proof of vaccination is not required. Last month, the province extended its power to keep all emergency orders under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) in place through the winter.

When asked if Jan. 17 was still the target date for lifting these restrictions, Moore only said they would continue to monitor the data and could extend proof of vaccination if deemed necessary. He did not offer a date on when the further extension of measures may come.

“A basic means of protecting individuals is stopping the mixing of unvaccinated and vaccinated,” said Moore. “If our cases continue through and after the holidays, we would make recommendations of the government to continue the certification process.”

“If there is a decrease in risk, we could make the recommendation to leave it up to the private business.”

The latest modelling from the province’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table predicts the ICU system “will have trouble responding” to a predicted surge of winter infections. Before taking the new Omicron variant into account, the panel projects ICU occupancy will reach 250-400 beds in January.

The Ford government says the province is able to admit around 300 patients with COVID-related illnesses into ICUs without having to cancel urgent surgeries. They add the province has the ability “quickly surge up” ICU capacity further if necessary.

Moore pointed out “a differential effect of COVID-19” across the province, and cited health units like Kingston, Sudbury and Algoma that are seeing a much higher rate of spread than more populated areas of the GTHA. He says the province will work to transfer patients from those health units to other parts of the province with spare beds, if it becomes necessary.

“We’ll move patients to ensure they get the right care at the right time,” said Moore. “Just like there was from Toronto out to other centres, when Toronto went through its significant wave.”

Ontario reported 928 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. The rolling seven-day average of cases is now 974, up nearly 200 cases from one week ago.

The Ford government announced in late October that barring any major setbacks, it intends to lift all public health and workplace safety measures by Mar. 28, 2022.