2022 COVID-19 Updates

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In order to protect the province’s most vulnerable and the overall health-care system, COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health-care system workers continue to be in place.

Consistent with current provincial health officer orders, health-care system workers will continue to be required to be vaccinated with a primary COVID-19 vaccine series, unless they have obtained an exemption from the provincial health officer (PHO).  More

Ontario has scrapped its mandatory five-day isolation rule for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 as part of an “all respiratory virus approach” to an expected rise in general illnesses in the fall. More

Set to expire on July 31, 2022, and introduced in April 2021, the benefit requires employers to provide employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave because of certain reasons related to COVID‑19.

This entitlement is in addition to employees’ rights to unpaid infectious disease emergency leave (IDEL).

News Release

Most of Ontario’s remaining COVID-19 mask mandates were lifted on Saturday, June 11. However, masking will still be required in long-term care and retirement homes.

The province's mask mandate was originally supposed to expire back in April 27 but was extended until June 11 because of the pandemic's sixth wave.

While most mask mandates have expires, businesses may still implement their own. 

News Release

COVID-19 restrictions at the border will remain in place for at least another month.

Several pandemic restrictions are in place at Canadian airports and land borders, including vaccine mandates, random COVID-19 tests and the requirement that international travellers answer pandemic-related questions on the ArriveCan app. Travellers must also wear masks on planes and passenger trains.

As for when the mandates will be lifted, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said he doesn't know but the government is consulting with experts and other jurisdictions.

News Release

The Ontario government’s response to the covid-19 pandemic and the imposition of unilateral covid-19 layoffs was the subject of a recent decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal in Taylor v. Hanley Hospitality Inc.

On Tuesday, the court ruled that the employer had chosen the wrong means to have the lawsuit resolved and overturned the lower court’s decision dismissing Ms. Taylor’s action.

Takeaway for Employers

A layoff will likely be viewed as a constructive dismissal by the courts if it is not authorized by a contractual term or past practice. The obligation to provide an employee with fair notice of termination or severance pay has not changed as a result of the pandemic, especially where the employer has maintained some operations.

News Release

Provincial masking requirements which were set to expire on April 27, 2022 are being extended in current settings until 12:00 a.m. on June 11, 2022, including:

• public transit;
• health care settings (e.g., hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics that provide health care services, laboratories, specimen collection centres, and home and community care);
• long-term care homes;
• retirement homes; and
• shelters and other congregate care settings that provide care and services to medically and socially vulnerable individuals.

A complete list of settings where masking requirements continue to apply is available online.

News Release

Starting on Friday, April 8, 2022, at 12:01 a.m., the following changes will take place:

• Showing the BC Vaccine Card proof of vaccination to access events, services and businesses will no longer be required.
  • individual businesses and organizations can choose to continue requiring the BC Vaccine Card on their premises.
• The remainder of the Workplace Safety Order will expire, which means that businesses are transitioning back to communicable disease plans to reduce risk of all communicable disease.
• The requirement for students residing in residence to be fully vaccinated under the Post-secondary Institution Housing COVID-19 Preventative Measures Order will be repealed.

News Release

Here are some of the latest updates on public health restrictions in Alberta: 

• Nearly all pandemic public health measures were lifted in the province as of March 1.
• This phase removes indoor masking, remaining school requirements, youth screening for entertainment and sports, removal of capacity limits on all large venues and entertainment venues, limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings lifted and mandatory work from home lifted. 
• Masking is still required in high-risk settings including Alberta Health Services-operated and contracted facilities, all continuing care settings, and on municipal transit services. The rule does not cover private services such as taxis or Uber trips.
• As of Feb. 14, there are no masking requirements for children and youth 12 years old and younger and no masking requirements for children and youth in schools for any age.
• Stage 1 took effect Feb. 16 and removed the restrictions exemption program. 
• Premier Jason Kenney says the province is working toward a third stage, which does not have a date, where people would no longer be required to isolate if they have COVID-19, and COVID operational and outbreak protocols will be lifted in continuing care facilities. 
• Health Minister Jason Copping said the stages are all conditions-based approach, based on hospitalization trends. 

More updates are available in the link below.

News Release

Ontario has lifted its masking requirements in most indoor settings. This change comes a few weeks after the province lifted proof-of-vaccination rules and capacity limits.

As of March 21, 2022 masks are no longer required in settings such as retail stores, bars, restaurants, gyms, community centres or museums. Masks will continue to be mandatory in high-risk and congregate settings including on public transit, in long-term care and retirement homes, health-care settings and shelters.

The official Ontario Face coverings and face masks webpage provides up-to-date requirements as well as additional resources for employers navigating masks in the workplace. 

News Release

Canada's chief public health officer said Friday, March 18, that the federal government is actively reviewing all of its vaccine mandates with an eye to ending rules that force some people to get their COVID-19 shots.

Speaking at a press conference with reporters, Dr. Theresa Tam said the country's public health officials are at a "very important juncture" and COVID-19 policies may soon shift from "an emphasis on requirements to recommendations."

News Release

Here are some of the latest updates on public health restrictions in Alberta: 

• Hundreds of Alberta health-care workers — on unpaid leave because they're not immunized against COVID-19 — are expected back on the job by March 31, after the provincial government directed Alberta Health Services to lift its vaccine mandate.

• The Alberta government has introduced legislation to limit the authority of municipalities to impose COVID-19 mask and proof of vaccine rules. Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said on March 8 that municipalities will now need provincial approval to pass such strictures on private businesses.

• Nearly all pandemic public health measures were lifted in the province as of March 1, as the Alberta government launched Step 2 of its reopening plan. 

• This phase removes indoor masking, remaining school requirements, youth screening for entertainment and sports, removal of capacity limits on all large venues and entertainment venues, limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings lifted and mandatory work from home lifted. 

• Masking is still required in high-risk settings including Alberta Health Services-operated and contracted facilities, all continuing care settings, and on municipal transit services. The rule does not cover private services such as taxis or Uber trips.

More updates are available in the link below.

News Release

On the heels of the passage of the Working for Workers Act, 2021, Ontario introduced Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022 (Bill 88) on February 28, 2022, and carried it at First Reading. 

If passed, Bill 88 will introduce the following key legislative changes, among others:

• Creation of a new Digital Platform Workers Rights Act, 2022. 

• Removing certain business consultants and information technology consultants from the scope of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”).

• A new employer requirement in the ESA for a policy on electronic monitoring. 

• Reduce delays for certain individuals who apply for registration with certain regulated professions in Ontario.  

• Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 

• The repeal of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006. 

Bill 88 would come into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

News Release

Just days after B.C. lifted its mask requirements in almost all public indoor spaces, businesses in the province are adjusting. While the easing of masking requirements has brought relief to some, it brings worry to others.

Many businesses are choosing to keep masking policies in place despite the end of the mask order. B.C. businesses ask for patience from customers who may enter a business with its own mask policy.

News Release

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the following updates which come into effect:

• Starting Friday, March 11, masks will be encouraged in spaces where physical distancing is difficult to maintain, such as on public transit and on B.C. ferries, but they will not be required.

• Masks will still be required in health-care settings, such as physicians offices.
• Long-term care visitation will be restored, faith gathering capacity limits will be lifted, effective 12:01 a.m. March 11.
• The province's vaccine card will be dropped on April 8, as long as conditions continue to improve.
• On April 8, businesses can shift from their COVID-19 safety plans to communicable disease plans. The vaccination requirement for those living in post-secondary residences will also be lifted.

News Release

The Public Health Agency of Canada reported trends of severe illness are declining in most areas of the country. This improving state of the COVID-19 pandemic means Canadian jurisdictions can now ease public health restrictions further, federal officials said Friday. 

Here are the latest updates for Alberta, Ontario and B.C.:

• Alberta has moved most aggressively to scrap COVID-19 measures, including requirements for masks and vaccine passports in virtually all situations.
• Ontario followed on March 1 by lifting its vaccine passport system and capacity limits in all indoor settings. 
• B.C. announced today that mask requirements will be lifted Friday, March 11 and vaccine cards remain in place until April 8.  

News Release

Alberta joins other provinces such as Manitoba and Quebec in lifting vaccination or testing mandates for workers. At the direction of the Minister of Health, Alberta Health Services (AHS) will amend the organization’s Immunization of Workers for COVID-19 Policy, effective March 10 at 4 p.m.

Current workers (as defined under the policy) that are unvaccinated and on a leave of absence will be able to return to work after March 10 at 4 p.m. A return to work will be worked out between workers and their workplace leaders.

News Release

The Alberta government has introduced legislation to limit the authority of municipalities to impose COVID-19 mask and proof of vaccine rules.

Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said Tuesday that municipalities will now need provincial approval to pass such strictures on private businesses.

But McIver said local leaders will still have that power when it comes to municipally-owned infrastructure such as recreation centres, buildings and arenas.

News Release

B.C. is maintaining COVID-19 restrictions currently in place. However, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry suggested it's possible that some measures may be removed as respiratory season ends, then be brought back in the winter months, though she did not give specific details on what that would look like.

News Release

The government of Alberta is a leader in lifting the majority of public health measures as the province moves into the second phase of reopening.

Now in effect:

• Remaining provincial school requirements (including cohorting) are removed.
• Screening prior to youth activities is no longer required.
• Capacity limits are lifted for all venues.
• Limits on social gatherings are removed.
• The provincial mask mandate is lifted in most settings. However, masking will still be required in the following high-risk settings: on public transit, at Alberta Health Services-operated and contracted facilities and all continuing care settings.
  • Municipal bylaws may continue to be in effect.
  • Albertans may wish to consider individual risk factors and choose to wear masks in other public indoor settings.
• Restrictions on interactive activities, liquor service and operating hours are lifted.
• Mandatory work-from-home requirement is removed.

News Release

The following changes to public health and workplace safety measures are in effect as of March 1, 2022.

• Capacity limits have been lifted in all indoor public settings.

• Proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted.
  • Businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry.
• Other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and passive screening of patrons remain in place.
• Businesses and organizations that are open must continue to have safety plans in place.

For the full list of measures in effect, see O. Reg. 364/20.

News Release

A new business supports campaign has been launched to help make small business owners and operators more aware of grants, incentives, training and other available resources as they recover from the pandemic.

Small businesses are encouraged to take advantage of these resources, which include access to one-on-one virtual assistance, COVID-19 guidelines, and links to other financial resources and relief measures.

Key small business supports provided by the City currently include:

• Toronto Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative
• Free business webinars
• Digital transformation resources for businesses
• CaféTO
• Small business tax subclass 

News Release

Alberta's largest and most northern county - Mackenzie County - says it is no longer working with local businesses that have a mandatory vaccination policy.

Mackenzie County says businesses that require employees, contractors or subcontractors to show proof of vaccination in workplaces or on work sites will not be hired to provide goods or services.

News Release

Premier Jason Kenney announced plans to move forward with the lifting of almost all COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta by early next week.

On Saturday, February 26 the government will announce a final decision about proceeding to Phase Two of the province's plan to lift almost all restrictions on March 1.

News Release

Effective February 17, 2022, Ontario will ease public health measures, including, but not limited to:

• Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
• Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
• Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
  • Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
  • Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
  • Cinemas
  • Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
  • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
  • Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
• Allowing 50% of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
• Allowing 50% of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
• Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25% in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
• Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.

News Release

Calgary councillors have voted to repeal the city's face covering bylaw, meaning it will be officially lifted when the province ends its Alberta-wide mandate.  

The province lifted mask requirements for schools on Monday and the Alberta-wide mask mandate is expected to be finished as of March 1, depending on Alberta's COVID-19 hospitalization rates.

News Release

Several of the province's COVID-19 restrictions were lifted at 11:59 p.m. Wed, Feb 16, allowing many activities that have been off-limits to resume.

Bars and nightclubs will reopen. Organized events such as wedding and funeral receptions will move back indoors. And all of those businesses and venues will be operating at full capacity, along with movie theatres, performance spaces and sports arenas.

Masks will remain mandatory at indoor public spaces and proof of vaccination will continue to be required for many discretionary activities. 

News Release

As of February 28, 2022:

• On-arrival testing for fully-vaccinated travellers will be eased. This means that travellers arriving to Canada from any country, who qualify as fully vaccinated, will be randomly selected for arrival testing. Travellers selected will also no longer be required to quarantine while awaiting their test result.

• Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result or a molecular test result to meet pre-entry requirements. 
• The government will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.

News Release

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's invoking the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canada's history to give the federal government temporary powers to handle ongoing blockades and protests against pandemic restrictions.

Trudeau says the unprecedented deployment of the Emergencies Act will give police more tools to restore order in places where public assemblies constitute illegal and dangerous activities, such as blockades and occupations. 

News Release

Effective March 1, 2022, Ontario government will remove its proof of vaccination system. Despite removing the vaccine passport system, businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. 

Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.

News Release

Ontario is lifting a directive that ordered hospitals to halt non-urgent surgeries and announced Wednesday it will expand access to rapid tests, but has no plans to end its vaccine passport or masking rules ahead of schedule. 

The province says it will distribute COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at grocery stores, pharmacies and other settings starting Wednesday. The tests will also be available through online order or pickup at the 2,385 participating grocery stores and pharmacies listed on the province's website.

News Release

Beginning Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m., Alberta will move into step one of it's three-step approach to phase out public health measures.

Effective Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m.:

• Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) ends, along with most associated restrictions.
• Entertainment venues will continue to have some specific rules in place:
  • Restrictions on sale of food and beverages and consumption while seated in audience settings will be removed.
  • Restrictions on closing times, alcohol service, table capacity in restaurants and interactive activities will remain in force.
• For all businesses, venues and facilities – whether they were previously eligible for the REP or not – capacity limits are removed, except for:
  • Facilities with capacity of 500 to 1,000, which will be limited to 500.
  • Facilities with capacity of 1,000-plus, which will be limited to 50%.

News Release

As of March 24, 2022, all regulated healthcare professionals in British Columbia must be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they want to continue to work.

Regulated health professionals who are vaccinated with one dose before March 24, 2022, may continue to work as long as they receive a second dose 28 to 35 days after their first dose, and there is process in place for medical exemption requests that can be submitted, says Dr. Bonny Henry.

News Release

An Alberta Court of Queen's Bench policy requiring anyone asked to serve on a jury to provide proof of two or more vaccinations has been quietly posted online.

"The Court of Queen's Bench is taking precautions to protect your health during the jury selection and trial process to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19," the policy states.  "You will be required to produce your Alberta-issued COVID-19 vaccine record with the QR code."  

A spokesperson for Alberta Justice could not say when the policy was posted.

News Release

With British Columbia’s top doctor looking at easing COVID-19 restrictions later this month, many may feel we’re moving towards the next phase of the pandemic, but the federal government still has an advisory against all non-essential international travel.

All returning travellers will need to provide a negative result on a PCR test taken within 72 hours of their return to Canada.

News Release

The Government of Canada is providing an update on its border measures. It is:

• Removing, effective Jan 28, 2022, the modified pre-departure test requirements for travellers coming to Canada on direct or indirect flights from India or Morocco. Travellers from these countries will no longer be required to obtain a valid negative pre-departure COVID-19 test from a third country. All travellers entering Canada are now subject to the same pre-entry test requirements, regardless of their departure country.
• Ending the temporary exemption from pre-entry, arrival, and Day-8 testing and quarantine requirements for residents and essential workers of BC who have to travel by land to or through the United States for essential food and supplies. This will end on Jan 31, 2022, at 20:59 PST.

News Release

The government has introduced a new bill to respond to COVID-19 rapid test needs across the country. Bill C-10, an act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19, would give Health Canada the authority to purchase and distribute up to $2.5 billion worth of rapid tests across the country.

Bill C-10 would:

• Build on the commitments in the December 14, 2021, Economic and Fiscal Update, in which the Government of Canada proposed $1.7 billion to increase access to COVID-19 rapid testing for everyone in Canada;
• Allow Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue supporting provinces and territories by securing the COVID-19 rapid tests they need;
• Continue to partner with the Canadian Red Cross to deliver rapid tests – free of charge – to community organizations; and
• Continue to support small, medium and large businesses and organizations, as well as federal workplace screening programs through direct delivery and through partners such as Chambers of Commerce, and pharmacies.

News Release

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is sending out a new round of letters to pandemic aid recipients to verify they were eligible for the help, and warning of potential need for repayments.

It's the second time the agency is mailing Canada Emergency Response Benefit recipients as part of a process to verify the eligibility of the millions of Canadians who received the $500-a-week benefit.

The CRA sent out more than 441,000 letters to CERB recipients near the end of 2020 asking them to verify they met eligibility rules for the payments.

Thousands more are going out beginning today, this time targeting recipients who may have earned more than the $1,000 a month the Liberals allowed beginning in mid-April 2020.

News Release

Indigenous Services Canada is flowing a total of $125 million of COVID-19 public health funding directly to First Nations across the country to support their public health efforts.

This funding can be used by First Nations to support community surge capacity in response to COVID-19. This may include, but is not limited to, continued administration of COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, implementation of rapid testing, surge infrastructure, surge staff and resources, food security to support self-isolation and supports to update, review and activate pandemic response plans.

News Release

Alberta Health has a supply of rapid COVID-19 test kits that are available, at no charge, to select public, private, and not-for-profit employers and service providers to support COVID-19 screening programs in their facilities.

This document (linked below) outlines Alberta’s rapid test program and how organizations can apply for rapid tests. The program overview includes the following sections:

• What is a Screening Test?
• Rapid Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screening in Alberta
• Establishing Your Rapid Asymptomatic COVID-19 Screening Program
• Requesting Rapid Tests

Program Overview

Effective Jan. 31, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. Ontario will begin the process of gradually easing restrictions, while maintaining protective measures, including but not limited to:

• Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.

• Increasing or maintaining capacity limits at 50% in indoor public settings, including but not limited to:
  • Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
  • Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies)
  • Shopping malls;
  • Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
  • Cinemas;
  • Meeting and event spaces;
  • Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks;
  • Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; and
  • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
  • Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
• Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50% seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.

Further measures are set to come into effect on Feb. 21 and Mar. 14. See the full list of restrictions in the link below. 

News Release

B.C. is extending the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant and doubling supports for eligible businesses that have been ordered to remain temporarily closed through public health measures until Feb. 16, 2022.

Eligible businesses include:

• bars, nightclubs and lounges that do not serve full meals; and
• event venues that had to close due to cancellations.

Businesses that have applied for a COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant do not need to reapply. To apply for a grant, visit the official closure relief grant webpage. 

News Release

Eligible businesses required to close or reduce capacity due to the current public health measures put in place to blunt the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can apply for the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program starting Jan. 18.

Through the new program, the government will provide eligible businesses with a rebate payment of up to 100% for property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these restrictions.

News Release

The federal government is extending the deadline for small businesses to pay back their Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans to the end of 2023.

The government introduced CEBA in April 2020 as an interest-free loan program, offering initially up to $40,000 to small businesses and non-profits who have experienced a loss of revenue due to COVID-19. An expansion was then offered, seeing businesses able to apply to receive up to $60,000 loans.

Prior to Wednesday’s update, if claimants repaid the balance of their loan on or before the end of 2022, the government planned to forgive up to one-third of their loan. Now, eligible businesses “in good standing,” will have until Dec. 31, 2023 to repay and be eligible for up to $20,000 of debt forgiveness.

News Release

Businesses can now apply for the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, a new program the province has fast-tracked to support B.C. businesses ordered to temporarily close their doors due to recent public-health measures.

Businesses that were ordered to fully close on Dec. 22, 2021, including bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness and adult dance centres and event venues that can no longer hold events, can apply for relief grants of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Funds from the program can help with expenses such as rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance and utilities.

News Release

A new public health order that leaves it up to employers to decide which Albertans infected with COVID-19 should go to work is short on oversight and enforcement, health law experts say.

The "critical worker exception" order (Order 02-2022) lets employers judge, with few conditions, whether the service they provide is critical and which of their COVID-positive employees are essential.

Here's a few key things to note about this exemption:

• Critical workers who are symptom-free or have mild symptoms can be called back to work. 
• There is no application process for the exemption, and return-to-work plans will not be reviewed by any government department.
• To qualify, a worker must: be part of a service of which a disruption would be harmful to the public, and, be determined by the owner or operator to be needed in-person for duties that are essential to the continued safe operations of the service.
• Managers must also develop a safety plan to minimize the risk posed by COVID-positive employees.
• Workers deemed essential are only allowed to leave isolation to complete their job duties.
• Employees should remain masked when in contact with others and, whenever possible, work alone.

News Release

The government has announced the Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen.

It will provide eligible small businesses with a grant payment of $10,000.

Eligible small businesses include:

• Restaurants and bars;
• Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms);
• Performing arts and cinemas;
• Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
• Meeting or event spaces;
• Tour and guide services;
• Conference centres and convention centres;
• Driving instruction for individuals; and
• Before- and after- school programs.

Eligible businesses that qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and that are subject to closure under modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and will not need to apply to the new program.

Newly established and newly eligible small businesses will need to apply once the application portal opens in the coming weeks.

Small businesses that qualify can expect to receive their payment in February.

News Release

On January 7, 2022, the provincial health officer announced an order requiring employers to re-activate their COVID-19 Safety Plans.

This replaces the previous requirement for employers to have communicable disease prevention plans in their workplaces. While communicable disease prevention plans and COVID-19 Safety Plans share some of the same fundamental principles, COVID-19 Safety Plans are formal, written plans with more rigorous controls and are more appropriate for periods of elevated risk, such as the one currently faced by B.C. workplaces by the Omicron variant. 

WorkSafeBC resources to help you re-activate or implement your COVID-19 Safety Plan

• Updated COVID-19 Safety Plan template
• HS Guideline G-P2-21 Communicable disease prevention, which provides more information about the workplace requirements to implement communicable disease prevention

 

The Ontario government is temporarily moving the province into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen with modifications that take into account the province’s successful vaccination efforts. 

These measures include, but are not limited to:

• Reducing social gathering limits to 5 people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
• Limiting capacity at organized public events to 5 people indoors.
• Requiring businesses and organizations to ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
• Limiting capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies to 50% capacity of the particular room. 
• Retail settings, including shopping malls, permitted at 50% capacity. 
• Closing indoor meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions but permitting outdoor spaces to remain open with restrictions.
• Closing indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments. Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
• Closing indoor concert venues, theatres, cinemas, rehearsals and recorded performances permitted with restrictions.

Please view the regulation for the full list of mandatory public health and workplace safety measures.

News Release

The CMOH Order 01-2022 sets out isolation and related masking requirements in Alberta.

Effective January 3, Albertans are legally required to isolate as outlined below:

• Fully vaccinated (2 doses or 1 dose Janssen): Isolate for 5 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition. For 5 days following isolation, wear a mask at all times when around others outside of home.
• Not fully vaccinated (1 dose or less): Isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition.
• If you test negative and have symptoms, you should still stay home and away from others until symptoms resolve.

CMOH Order 01-2022 : 2022 COVID-19 response

Expanded access to the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) is now in effect.

Previously announced in December, the program now includes workers in regions where provincial or territorial governments have introduced capacity-limiting restrictions of 50% or more.

The benefit will provide $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) per week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown, and who have lost 50% or more of their income as a result. Payment will be retroactive to Dec. 19, 2021.

Canadians in designated regions affected by lockdowns or qualifying capacity restrictions can apply for the benefit.  

News Release

The requirement to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 is being reduced to 5 days for vaccinated people without symptoms.

People who haven't been vaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days. Previously, vaccinated people were required to isolate for 7 days.

News Release

Ottawa has clarified the rules when it comes to records of employment (ROEs) and vaccine mandates. The government is providing additional information to that provided in October.

If employees are directly affected by a lockdown as a result of COVID-19 and they’re no longer working, employers must issue an ROE.

And in a Dec. 24 update, the federal government confirmed that:

• When the employee is no longer working due to a shortage of work because the business has closed or decreased operations due to a lockdown as a result of COVID-19, employers should use code A (shortage of work)
• When the employee is sick or quarantined, they should use code D (illness or injury) as the reason for separation (block 16)
• When the employee refuses to come to work but is not sick or quarantined, use code E (quit) or code N (leave of absence), as appropriate.
• When an employer suspends or terminates an employee for not complying with a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, it should use code M (dismissal or suspension).

Access further, updated EI information for employers here.