In COVID-19 response, Ontario remains temporarily at modified Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen program until at least January 26 with a series of public health restrictions due to the highly transmissible omicron variant.  

On January 10, Premier Doug Ford announced that students will return to in-classroom learning at schools on January 17

Among residents of the territory served by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), there were 3,211 official active cases of COVID-19 as of Monday, January 10. There were 45 COVID-19 patients in hospital and three people in intensive care as of Monday.   

The greatest number of active COVID-19 cases under EOHU jurisdiction as of Monday were in Cornwall where there were 1,019 cases. Clarence-Rockland had 304 active cases, and Hawkesbury had 265 active cases. 

As of January 10, North Glengarry had 153 active cases of COVID-19, Champlain Township had 145 active cases, there were 144 active cases of COVID-19 in La Nation, and 143 active cases of COVID-19 in Alfred and Plantagenet. There 63 active cases of COVID-19 in East Hawkesbury as of January 10. 

There were 9,706 new cases of COVID-19 across Ontario on January 10 from January 9 and 12 additional deaths were reported across Ontario on Monday. 

Institutional outbreaks 

The EOHU reported active COVID-19 outbreaks on January 10 at 36 long-term care centres, retirement homes, group living facilities and hospitals under its jurisdiction. Outbreaks are in effect at the following 22 facilities in Prescott and Russell and North Glengarry: 

  • Heritage Lodge in Vankleek Hill 
  • Hawkesbury and District General Hospital 
  • Prescott-Russell Residence in Hawkesbury 
  • Place Mont-Roc in Hawkesbury 
  • Manoir Carillon in Chute-à-Blondeau 
  • Manoir Caledonia in St-Isidore 
  • Pension du Bonheur in Alfred 
  • Pinecrest Nursing Home in Plantagenet 
  • Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria 
  • Community Living- Bishop St. Residence in Alexandria 
  • Community Living- Dominion St. Residence in Alexandria 
  • Community Living Glengarry Yanik Street Residence in Alexandria 
  • Maxville Manor 
  • Valoris Le Domaine in Casselman 
  • Residence Limoges 
  • Foyer St-Viateur Nursing Home in Limoges 
  • Centre d’Acceuil Roger Séguin in Clarence Creek 
  • Oasis Residence Simon in Rockland 
  • Rockland Manor 
  • Jardins Belle Rive in Rockland 
  • Russell Meadows Retirement Home 
  • Foyer St-Jacques in Embrun 

The Ontario Ministry of Education is no longer listing COVID-19 cases associated with schools. 

COVID-19 measures presently in effect across Ontario 

  • Online learning for all schools until January 17 
  • Social gatherings are limited to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors 
  • Organized public events will be limited to five people indoors 
  • Businesses and organizations are required to ensure employees work remotely as much as possible 
  • Indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments is not permitted 
  • Capacity restrictions of 50 per cent are in place for retail settings, certain personal care services and libraries.  
  • Indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies are limited to 50 per cent capacity of the room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance. 

Business and service closures 

The following services and settings are temporarily closed: 

  • Indoor meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions 
  • Indoor concert venues, theatres, cinemas; rehearsals and recorded performances permitted with restrictions 
  • Indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms 
  • Museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals (outdoor establishments permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy, where applicable, limited to 50 per cent capacity) 
  • Indoor horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues 

Isolation Period 

  • Fully vaccinated individuals who have COVID-19, as well as children under 12, must isolate for 5 days from the onset of symptoms. Their household members must also isolate for 5 days. Contacts from outside the affected household must self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days. 
  • Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or immunocompromised must isolate for 10 days. 
  • Staff who work in high-risk health care settings can return to work after 10 days from their date of diagnosis, or after seven days with a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result.  

Booster booking 

All Ontario residents aged 18 and older are eligible to receive a third, COVID-19 vaccine booster. To book your appointment through your local public health unit, call 1-833-943-3900 or go to https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/  

Booster vaccinations are also being offered by local doctor’s offices and at pharmacies in Alexandria, Alfred, Bourget, Casselman, Embrun, Hawkesbury (Asselin Independent, Pharmasave, Shoppers Drug Mart, Guardian), Limoges, Plantagenet, Russell, St-Isidore, and Vankleek Hill. Contact each pharmacy to make an appointment.