Online school, business closures and surgery reductions begin again in Ontario
Posted January 5, 2022 5:19 am.
Last Updated January 5, 2022 5:28 am.
Stricter COVID-19 measures are taking effect in Ontario on Wednesday.
School classes will run remotely until at least Jan. 17, while most other measures, including business closures, are slated to last at least 21 days.
Hospitals are ordered to pause all non-urgent surgeries to free up staff to cover absences and the rising number of hospitalized virus patients.
Several kinds of business including cinemas, gyms, theatres and restaurants must close for indoor activities.
Some other businesses including retail stores and personal care services are limited to 50 per cent capacity.
Social gatherings are limited to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
On Monday, the Ford government announced that the province would be returning to a modified Step Two of their COVID-19 Roadmap to Reopen Plan, in an effort to stop the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
“We face a tsunami of new cases in the days and weeks ahead. And as we do, virtually everyone in this province will know someone who has been exposed to this virus,” Ford said. “Now, we’re bracing for impact.”
Last week the province said students would be back in the classroom on Wednesday but following an emergency cabinet meeting Sunday night, the Ford government pushed that date back to at least Jan. 17.
The new measures went into effect at 12:01 a.m.
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With files from Meredith Bond and Michael Talbot of CityNews
