December 31, 2021

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has announced updates and revisions to a variety of COVID-19 guidelines and measures. The changes affect testing and isolation guidelines, attendance capacities for public events, school opening dates and fourth vaccinations for certain citizens at risk.

Below is a brief summary of the key points followed by a link to the full government announcement.

Testing and Isolation
Effective December 31, members of the general public with mild symptoms are asked not to seek testing. 

In addition, most individuals with a positive result from a rapid antigen test will no longer be required or encouraged to get a confirmatory PCR or rapid molecular test.

The publicly-funded PCR testing will be available only for high-risk individuals who are symptomatic and/or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including for the purposes of confirming a COVID-19 diagnosis to begin treatment, and workers and residents in the highest risk settings, as well as vulnerable populations. A full list of eligible individuals can be found here.

Isolation periods
Individuals with COVID-19 who are vaccinated, as well as children under 12, will be required to isolate for five days following the onset of symptoms. Their household contacts are also required to isolate with them. 

These individuals can end isolation after five days if their symptoms are improved for at least 24 hours and all public health and safety measures, such as masking and physical distancing, are followed. Non-household contacts are required to self-monitor for ten days.

Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised individuals will be required to isolate for 10 days. 

Individuals who work or live in high-risk health care settings are recommended to return to work after 10 days from their last exposure or symptom onset or from their date of diagnosis. 

However, to ensure sufficient staffing levels, these workers will have the opportunity to return to work after isolating for seven days with negative PCR or rapid antigen test results, which will be provided by the province through the health care setting.

Attendance capacities for public events
Effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday, December 31, 2021, Ontario is restricting spectator capacity to 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is less, in the indoor areas of the following settings:

• Spectator areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., sporting events);
• Concert venues; and
• Theatres.

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School openings
Students are set to return to schools on January 5, 2022 for school boards previously scheduled to return on January 3 to provide schools additional time to prepare for the public health measures announced today.

Fourth vaccination doses for certain citizens at risk
Effective immediately the province will be making fourth doses of mRNA vaccines available to residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and other congregate care settings if at least three months, or 84 days, have passed since their third dose. I hope you find this information helpful and offer my best wishes for health and prosperity in the new year.

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