Sunday, December 26, 2021

Lockdown measures reintroduced in Canada

Ontario reduces capacity limits and announces a ton of new restrictions for indoor settings | BlogTO - Jack Landau:
December 17, 2021 - "Doug Ford just announced a long list of new restrictions for indoor settings to slow the rapid spread of Omicron.... Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said on Friday that 'the province is applying a 50 per cent capacity limits in indoor public settings such as restaurants, bars, gyms, pharmacies, grocery stores, shopping malls, and personal care services' ... [e]ffective 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19.... 

"There are more restrictions that will go into place this weekend, and the province is hinting that additional, harsher measures could be coming soon. With the holidays just days away, social gatherings have been capped to a 10 person maximum starting Sunday.... If your holiday dinner plans included a night out, be warned that restaurants will be forced to stop selling alcohol at 10 p.m. and close their doors at 11 p.m. daily, effectively ending nightlife in the city. You also won't be able to eat or drink at most events and shows....

"Ford said during Friday's press conference, 'daily COVID cases will continue to accelerate,' and the province's 'decision to limit peoples' ability to gather, especially during holidays, is an extremely, extremely difficult one to make'. Premier Ford and Dr. Moore were careful to avoid the word 'lockdown' in the announcement of sweeping measures on Friday afternoon, but it's pretty clear we're headed back to the darkest days of the pandemic as case counts skyrocket."
Read more: https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/12/ontario-reduces-capacity-limits-and-announced-ton-new-restrictions-indoor-settings/

Omicron Threat Brings New Lockdown Rules | Toronto Star - Moira Wyton, The Tyee:
December 23, 2021 - "British Columbia is cancelling thousands of scheduled surgeries, shutting down bars and gyms and limiting gatherings in an effort to prevent the Omicron COVID variant from overwhelming hospitals ... said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry... All scheduled surgeries will be cancelled starting Jan. 4, or about 3,000 of B.C.’s approximately 7,000 surgeries performed each week. Emergency and urgent surgeries will continue, Health Minister Adrian Dix said. Henry said the measures are needed to ensure the health system can respond to an expected surge in cases. 'We have a very fragile health-care workforce right now,' she added.

"Indoor personal gatherings are limited to a maximum of one other household or 10 people, and all must be vaccinated. Unvaccinated people are not permitted to gather indoors outside of their household.

"Organized events like wedding receptions and New Year’s or holiday parties at venues of any size are prohibited, and restaurants are limited to tables of six people or less. Seated events of any size like concerts, sports games and movie theatres are limited to half capacity, with vaccine card checks. There is no restriction on non-essential travel within B.C. or Canada, but Henry said anyone travelling should be vaccinated and limit their contacts to only close family members.
Read more: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/12/23/omicron-threat-brings-new-lockdown-rules.html

All Nunavut communities under strict lock down as COVID-19 surges across the territory | CBC News:
December 24, 2021 - "All Nunavut communities have entered into a full lockdown due to a surge of COVID-19 cases across the territory. There are eight active cases in the territory: one in Rankin Inlet and one in Sanirajak. Pangnirtung has one new case bringing the total in that community to three. Iqaluit has one more confirmed case bringing the number of cases in the city to three. 

"In a press release, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Michael Patterson said the strict measures are to try and break transmission of the virus.... Effective immediately in every Nunavut community: 

  • Outdoor gatherings are limited to five people. 
  • Indoor public gatherings are not allowed.
  • In homes there can be up to five visitors for essential or emergency services only. 
  • Gyms, libraries, swimming pools and arenas are closed. 
  • Places of worship are closed. 
  • All non-essential businesses and government offices are closed.
  • Bars and licensed establishments are closed.
  • Restaurants are open for takeout only. 
  • Long term and elder care facilities are closed. 
  • Personal services are closed. Such as hairdressers, massage therapists. 
  • All schools in Nunavut will remain closed until Jan. 10 or until advised by Patterson. Daycares can stay open for children of essential workers.

"All government offices are closed, along with non-essential business. It is unclear if Government of Nunavut employees will be working from home after the holiday closure, which ends Jan. 3. 

"Anyone who arrives in Nunavut from outside the territory, and who is not triple vaccinated, is advised to isolate for 14 days upon entry into the territory.... Residents of Rankin Inlet are able to travel home and essential workers can also travel to the community [only - gd] with an exemption letter from their employer or the chief public health officer. Travel is also restricted in Pangnirtung and Iqaluit." [stress added]
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/christmas-lock-down-covid-19-1.6297549 

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