COVID-19 protocols expanded in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts
Health authorities in Sudbury are expanding COVID-19 restrictions that were in place for the city to now include the entire Sudbury and Manitoulin districts.
"We are at a point where we need to double down on the basics like masking, physical distancing, and vaccination. But local circumstances also mean that we also need some new rules, rolling back some relaxed measures, to further protect people who are unvaccinated, especially kids," said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the medical officer of health with Public Health Sudbury & Districts in a news release Wednesday night. "Today I am announcing new protective measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and do our best to ensure we are as prepared as we can be for the highly transmissible Omicron variant."
The following new instructions take effect Dec. 11 at 12:01 a.m.:
- Businesses and organizations must limit social gatherings and organized public events to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
- Food service businesses must reimplement some protections from Stage 2, such as no buffets and ensuring customers remain seated, except where dancing is permitted;
- Indoor sport and fitness facilities must increase physical distancing to three metres for some activities and establish new safety precautions in washrooms and change rooms;
- Team sports or games involving physical contact must be modified to eliminate it, with limited exceptions for professional and elite leagues and associations;
- Malls must reduce the music volume, prevent lineup and congregating unless physical distancing of two metres is maintained;
- Increased workplace safety measures for those who cannot work remotely, including virtual meetings and staggered breaks.
Proof of vaccination for people ages 12 and older is moving from voluntary to required for all non-essential businesses and organizations while maintaining capacity limits starting Dec. 15 at 12:01 a.m.
The Sudbury health unit is strongly advising that the public avoid non-essential travel, including holiday travel plans, take steps to make social gatherings in private settings as safe as possible, consider the vaccination status of everyone attending gatherings.
They also recommend practicing safe retail behaviours and considering curbside pickup.
Finally, for those living in long-term care and retirement homes, be aware of the vaccination status of anyone you visit.
As of Wednesday at 4 p.m., there are 363 active cases of COVID-19 in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts. The region's 43rd COVID-related death was confirmed along with 50 new cases on Wednesday.
In less than a month, there have been 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the area, representing more than a quarter of the total cases since the pandemic began.
"While we do see cases of COVID-19 among students, which ultimately affect classes, cohorts, and schools, transmission is mostly occurring in community—we are not seeing high transmission of COVID-19 in schools and we remain focused in preserving in-person learning," Sutcliffe said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.