More restrictions coming to region

The region’s medical officer of health is calling this a critical time for Simcoe Muskoka, and the province.
Dr. Charles Gardner said the Omicron variant is spreading, doubling in numbers every three days, compared to the Delta variant which doubles every 30 days. Although the region has seen a slight reduction in its total case count for the first time in seven weeks, cases are still higher than the province as a whole.
The region is seeing its highest number of outbreaks since the beginning of the pandemic and Gardner said he has very serious concerns about the days and weeks ahead, adding that the health unit and hospitals are limited in their capacity to handle the load.
On Wednesday afternoon, Gardner said he is prepared to issue an order for tightened controls in certain settings in Simcoe Muskoka if the province doesn’t.
“Having full capacity in such settings now becomes very hazardous in my opinion. As chair of the council of the Ontario Medical Officers of Health I have co-signed a letter to the minister of health sent last night calling on the province to reduce capacity limits to 50 per cent,” he said, to allow for more spacing and reduce contacts. He also supports reducing limits in social settings to 10 people, down from 25.
The province did announce late Wednesday that it intends to introduce a 50 per cent capacity limit on indoor venues with a usual capacity of 1,000 or more, effective Dec. 18.
A new Letter of Instruction and Section 22 Order has been drafted for all residents, employers, businesses, and organizations in Simcoe Muskoka that would reduce capacity limits for certain business types, including restaurants and bars, event spaces and indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities. Private social gatherings would also be limited as would capacity at weddings, funerals and religious services.
“I intend to issue these local instructions and orders within this week if the provincial government does not announce broad province-wide restrictions and other public health measures to stem the rise of Omicron,” stated Dr. Gardner, noting that the instructions and orders would come into effect on Monday, Dec. 20. “If we are to manage Omicron with any success, it will be critical that along with these additional restrictions that reduce physical interaction as much as possible in all settings, that everyone continues to comply with the existing public health measures.”  
The health unit is reporting that there is emerging evidence that while two doses provide some protection against infection and hospitalization, the protection is not as strong as for other variants, so there is an urgent need for booster doses for everyone who is eligible to receive one, particularly for the older population.
“Unfortunately, the easing of provincial restrictions in October allowing larger social gatherings and colder temperatures bringing people indoors has led to more close contact interactions, which have contributed to the higher case counts and more hospitalizations locally,” said Gardner. “I am particularly concerned about the high rates of COVID-19 transmission locally at the same time we are seeing the surge in cases across Ontario with the Omicron variant for which a third dose of vaccination is required for protection. There are already great demands on our healthcare services in our community and decisive action is needed now to prevent our situation from becoming dire.”
With cases of Omicron set to outpace the Delta variant, the effects of the virus are being felt throughout the healthcare system.
“With the recent rise in overall COVID-19 in our region, along with the rapidly emerging threat of the Omicron variant, we are concerned that access to necessary hospital services may be at risk,” said Carmine Stumpo, President and CEO at Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital on behalf of the six hospitals in Simcoe Muskoka. “Hospitals currently are still recovering from previous delays in accessing care, continue to support COVID-related supports like testing centres and vaccination clinics and coping with staff shortages on a regular basis. Front-line and support staff in hospitals across the region have been stretched well beyond their usual capacity for an extended period of time. Any further increase in hospitalization associated with a COVID-19 surge will create significant capacity issues region-wide.”
The health unit is stepping up its efforts to increase the level of vaccination amongst residents over the next few weeks, focusing on providing booster doses for eligible individuals.
Starting Monday, Dec. 20, eligibility is expanding to all individuals aged 18 and over, and the dose interval is being shortened to three months following an individual’s second dose.
“As we combat the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, nothing matters more than getting these booster doses into people’s arms” said Premier Doug Ford. “I am issuing a call to arms. We need every member of Team Ontario to stand tall and do their part as we work to protect our hard-fought progress and keep Ontarians safe.”
The health unit is significantly increasing the number of appointments at its community clinics and is collaborating closely with its various health care and pharmacy partners to greatly increase access to COVID-19 vaccines in many locations for eligible individuals. The health unit is also placing all non-COVID-19-related programs and services on hold so that staff can be redeployed to support the COVID-19 vaccination efforts, while maintaining basic COVID-19 case and contact management, outbreak management, enforcement, phone line, surveillance and communications response.
Booster vaccines are available by appointment at community clinics and can be booked through the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, through some health care providers and family health teams, select pharmacies, the GO-VAXX Bus, and some Indigenous-led clinics.
All other eligible individuals, including children five to 11 years, who have not yet received a first, second or third dose of vaccine are encouraged to do so as soon as possible and may also book an appointment for one of these options.
The province is also launching a holiday testing blitz to offer rapid antigen screening to individuals free of charge at pop-up sites across the province. Up to two million rapid tests will be provided free of charge at pop-up testing sites in high-traffic settings such as malls, retail settings, holiday markets, public libraries and transit hubs. Pop-up teams will be deployed at nearly 50 locations across the province, including some co-located with GO-VAXX mobile vaccine buses. Most sites will distribute free take-home rapid antigen test kits, subject to supply, and some will offer asymptomatic rapid antigen screening on-site. The government will also make take-home rapid tests available at select LCBO stores, starting with the busiest stores this week and with more stores being added in the coming days.
Ontarians can visit Ontario.ca/holidaytesting to find out if pop-up rapid antigen screening sites will be available in their area. Locations and operating hours will be updated weekly, and no appointment will be required.
Existing public health measures include staying home when feeling ill and getting tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19, maintaining a physical distance of at least two metres from those living outside of your household, wearing a mask indoors and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible, coverin coughs, and washing hands regularly.
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and current public health measures and requirements, visit smdhu.org/covid19.