Here's what a return to modified Step 2 COVID-19 restrictions means for Waterloo region

Waterloo region, like the rest of the province, will move into a modified step two of COVID-19 restrictions as of Wednesday morning.

The move was announced by the Ontario government on Monday and will last until at least Jan. 26. 

It includes the move to remote learning for public and private schools until at least Jan. 17. School buildings can be open for child care and to provide in-person classes for students with special education needs who can't be accommodated remotely, and staff who cannot "deliver quality instruction from home."

The region's medical officer of health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, said in a press release that the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 has pushed case numbers higher than have been seen before in the community.

The number of reported new COVID-19 cases in Waterloo region was 487 on Tuesday, although that number is believed to be below the actual number of cases due to limitations on who can get a PCR test.

But Wang said the measures taken to curb spread of the virus will be temporary.

"We will overcome this wave of COVID-19, like we have done before, and to do so we must continue to work together to protect our community and our health system," Wang said in the release.

Regional officials encouraged people to get their first, second and/or third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they're eligible. Appointments can be booked through the region's website.

Here's a look at what's allowed:

For indoor gatherings, the limit is five people.

For outdoor gatherings, the limit is 10 people.

The three hospitals in Waterloo region announced that from Jan. 4 to Jan. 17, they would only provide urgent, emergent and cancer surgical procedures. 

On Wednesday, the province says chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore will reinstate directive two for hospitals, which will "pause all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures in order to preserve critical care and human resource capacity."

If you have a medical concern, local officials encourage people to reach out to their family doctor, a walk-in clinic, or Telehealth Ontario, or go to the hospital if it's an emergency.