Starting tomorrow, Ontario will limit access to publicly funded PCR testing to high-risk individuals who are symptomatic, such as healthcare workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients and homeless people. The rest of the population is called upon to stay at home in the event of symptoms.
The isolation period is now reduced to five days after the onset of symptoms for double-vaccinated people and children under the age of twelve under a new measure also announced Thursday by the province’s medical officer of health, Dr.r Kieran Moore. “These people can end the isolation after five days if their situation improves for at least 24 hours,” says the province. Other people living in the same domicile have the same obligation.
The Ontario government no longer encourages people who have tested positive on the rapid test to come to a testing center to confirm it, as is the case in Quebec. The number of tests performed by the province fell from 29,692 on November 28 – when the first case of the Omicron variant was reported in Ontario – to 67,301 on December 30. 96,455 tests are still waiting to be analyzed. Private clinics still offer PCR or rapid tests.
“We do not have the capacity to carry out a screening test for all those who want it, I’m sorry,” said Dr Kieran Moore at a press conference Thursday. The latter canceled a press conference on Tuesday, wishing to revise the new guidelines from the CDC which, on Monday, revised down the isolation period for periods infected with COVID-19 which are asymptomatic.
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised individuals should continue to isolate themselves for ten days. This is also recommended for people living or working in high risk health care settings. However, the province is opening the door for health workers to return to work after seven days if they test negative on the PCR test. This measure will ensure a sufficient number of workers, says the province.
Back to school postponed
The presentation of the new screening guidelines was coupled with the announcement of the postponement of the start of the school year to January 5, two days later than expected. N95 masks will be provided to teachers and school staff, the government says. 3,000 HEPA filters will also be deployed in school boards across the province.
24 Ontario schools were closed due to outbreaks before school ended. 2,607 cases were identified in school settings between December 10 and 24. From the start of the school year, schools will only be able to allow students certain indoor sports with little contact.
By volume, the province listed 13,807 new cases of COVID on December 30, a record. But the actual number of cases is four to five times higher, estimates the Dr Fahad Razak, internist and epidemiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “So many people can’t get tested,” he says.
This story is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.