Businesses and social gatherings will have to reduce group numbers, and employers will be expected to protect their workers via remote work
The Ontario government will be putting additional health and safety restrictions in place as of Dec. 19 due to spiking COVID-19 case numbers.
These restrictions come as a preventative measure against the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant and will affect businesses and social gatherings. Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Dec. 17 as the number of new cases in Ontario rose by 3,124.
“We need to meet this variant head on. We need to do everything we can to push it back,” said Ford.
As of 12:01 a.m. Sunday, indoor social gatherings will be limited to 10 people while outdoor gatherings will be limited to 25. Additionally, most businesses such as restaurants, malls, grocery stores, pharmacies, and gyms must operate at 50 per cent capacity. Restaurants and bars must also limit seating to 10 individuals per table and will have to close by 11 p.m. with the exception of takeout and delivery services. The sale of alcohol will be restricted after 10 p.m.
Capacity restrictions do not apply to areas used for weddings, funerals, or religious services.
In the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) region, where the first local case of the Omicron variant was reported on Dec. 10, businesses are required to enable remote work for their employees wherever possible, according to a letter of instruction from WDG Public Health published on Dec. 16.
For those who cannot work remotely, the gathering of workers must be limited through physical distancing, staggered breaks, and virtual meetings.
It is also expected that “all owners, operators and persons responsible for facilities will encourage and facilitate vaccination where feasible and continue to comply with all other public health measures including, but not limited to screening, physical distancing and use of personal protective equipment,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health, in the letter.
Mercer stated the importance of protecting the community’s progress that residents, businesses, and organizations have made in the fight against the pandemic thus far.
“As we enter the holiday season with a rising case count, we must take action and utilize proven public health measures such as limiting social interactions to ensure our schools remain open and we limit the strain on our local businesses during one of their most important times of the year.”
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