• Visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/public-health-measures for details on changes

Ontario Easing Temporary Visiting Restrictions at Long-Term Care Homes

• Effective February 7, the maximum number of designated caregivers per resident increased from two to four and will continue to be subject to a limit of two per resident at one time. In addition, residents who have had at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be able to resume social day trips.

GO-VAXX Mobile Vaccine Clinics Now Accepting Walk-ins

• GO-VAXX mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics are once again accepting walk-ins as well as appointments.
• To book an appointment at a GO-VAXX mobile vaccine clinic, visit the COVID-19 vaccination portal or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
• Each bus can administer up to 300 doses of the Pfizer vaccine per day.
• The GO-VAXX buses are fully accessible and heated. Check the GO-VAXX schedule for times and locations. Organizations interested in having the GO-VAXX bus visit can contact GOVAXX@ontario.ca.

• The Ontario government is supporting an investment of more than $2.9 million by five local companies to strengthen manufacturing of domestic medical supplies and support the development of homegrown innovations to help control the spread of COVID-19. The province is investing more than $1.54 million through the Ontario Together Fund (OTF).

• During the latest 7 day period (Jan 28-Feb 3, 2022), an average of 13,977 new cases were reported daily across Canada. While this is a 24% decrease compared to the week prior, these daily case counts together with other indicators of COVID-19 disease activity, including 18% laboratory test positivity during the latest 7 day period (Jan 26-Feb 1, 2022), indicate ongoing widespread activity across the country.
• An average of 9,951 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (Jan 28-Feb 3), which is 8% lower than last week, but still exceeds all previous peaks. This includes, on average, 1,170 people who were being treated in intensive care units (ICU) daily, and an average of 142 deaths were reported daily (Jan 28-Feb 3).
• Over 79% of the total population are now fully vaccinated. Age-specific vaccine coverage data, as of January 30, 2022, show that over 88% of people 12 years or older have at least one dose and over 83% are fully vaccinated. Among children aged 5-11 years of age, who have more recently become eligible for vaccination, 55% have at least one dose.

Government of Canada introduces legislation to support low-income seniors who received pandemic benefits

• As announced in the Economic and Fiscal Update, the Government will provide up to $742.4 million for one-time payments. These payments will alleviate the financial hardship of those seniors who qualified and received CERB and CRB in 2020 but who subsequently saw that they counted as income and impacted their GIS or Allowance benefits. This automatic, one-time payment will support those who saw a loss of GIS or Allowance by compensating them for the full, annualized loss amount. Seniors would not need to take any action to receive the one-time payment.

• The Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund will fund initiatives that:

  • provide short-term financial assistance to those experiencing economic hardship and requiring emergency support; and/or

  • provide workers with guidance, information, and professional development opportunities in areas such as financial management, mental health and well-being, and career transition.

• Funding eligibility requirements are available on the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund webpage. The deadline to apply is March 4, 2022.

Indigenous Services Canada COVID-19 update - Week of February 3, 2022

• As February 2, 2022, over 86% of individuals aged 12 and older in First Nations, Inuit and territorial communities have received a second dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and 23% have received a third/booster shot. Over 44% of individuals aged 5 to 11 have received at least one dose.
• From the average daily reported active case counts from the week of January 27 to February 2, 2022 there was a 3.8% (205 case) drop since the week prior, January 20 to 26.

• The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, introduced legislation to provide Health Canada with the statutory authority to purchase and distribute across the country up to $2.5 billion worth of COVID-19 rapid tests.

• Jan 28, the Government of Canada provided an update on its border measures. It has:
  • Removed, effective January 28, 2022, the modified pre-departure test requirements for travellers coming to Canada on direct or indirect flights from India or Morocco. Travellers from these countries will no longer be required to obtain a valid negative pre-departure COVID-19 test from a third country. All travellers entering Canada are now subject to the same pre-entry test requirements, regardless of their departure country.
  • Ended, effective January 31, 2022, at 20:59 PST, the temporary exemption from pre-entry, arrival, and Day-8 testing and quarantine requirements for residents and essential workers of British Columbia who have to travel by land to or through the United States for essential food and supplies.