Ontario's top doctor gives COVID-19 update as province tightens rules in long-term care homes

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, is holding a news conference at 3 p.m. ET in Toronto. Watch it live in this story.

Ontario is introducing enhanced COVID-19 testing and vaccination measures for residents, staff and visitors of long-term care and retirement homes as the province faces a potential surge in cases caused by the omicron variant.

Starting today, all general visitors will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter a long-term care home, the Ministry of Long-Term Care said in a news release.

As of Dec. 17, all staff, caregivers, volunteers and students working in long-term care facilities will be tested twice weekly, regardless of vaccination status. Support workers and visitors who provide essential services to residents will need to test negative for COVID-19 in order to enter.

Caregivers will be required to be vaccinated to enter a home, with the exception of those seeing a dying resident or those who have a medically valid exemption. Caregivers who are unvaccinated will need to get a first dose by Dec. 20, the Ministry of Long-Term Care says, and a second by Feb. 21, 2022.

 In the meantime, caregivers who aren't fully vaccinated are restricted to the room of the resident they are going to see.

Furthermore, indoor visits will be limited to two guests or caregivers. Outdoor visits can involve up to four guests or caregivers at a time.

Cohorting will be implemented for dining and higher-risk activities such as singing and dancing, according to the ministry. 

Only residents who have had two shots of vaccine will be permitted to take day absences for social purposes, while overnight absences for social purposes will be prohibited, the ministry said. Anyone who does leave the premises for a visit must be actively screened upon returning.

"Our priority is to protect long-term care residents from COVID-19," said Minister of Long-Term Care Rod Phillips said in a news release. "These further measures build on the ones already taken, including mandatory vaccinations, priority for third doses, and randomized testing, [which] will provide the best level of protection possible."

The new measures for retirement homes will take effect on Dec. 22.

Starting that day, staff, volunteers, contractors and essential caregivers will need to take rapid tests twice weekly. General visitors and support workers will also need to take rapid tests before they enter a home.

The ministry is strongly encouraging retirement homes to restrict visitors to only those who are fully vaccinated, and develop "additional requirements" for unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated visitors. 

Homes are also being encouraged to limit visitors and group sizes for all social activities and events, as well as test people when they return from overnight trips outside the homes.