Three Ontario health units issue tougher COVID-19 recommendations amid rising cases

Three southwestern Ontario health units are recommending limiting indoor holiday gatherings to fully vaccinated guests, other than young children, to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. 

The new recommendations from Huron Perth Public Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health come as more cases of the Omicron variant crop up in the province and after a science advisory table’s projections pointed to higher case counts and ICU occupancy on the horizon. 

The first recommendation is that everyone should limit indoor social gatherings in private dwellings to no more than 10 people, and all attendees 12 years of age and older should be vaccinated.

All unvaccinated people 12 years of age and older are advised to avoid any non-essential indoor contact with individuals who are not part of their household.

The public health units are also recommending that, where possible, people work remotely.

The health units say the recommendations are effective immediately and will be reassessed in four weeks’ time.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2021. 

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press