Provincial Government Updates
COVID-19 Cases in Schools and Child Care Centres
A webpage has been created to report COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres. This page will be updated every week day with the most up-to-date COVID-19 information available, including a summary of cases in schools and licensed child care centres and agencies.The launch of the site on Sepetmber 11, 2020 revealed an alarming 56 recorded COVID-19 cases in child care.
Long-Term Care and Retirement Home Absences
The province has announced that long-term care and retirement home residents can once again leave their residences for day trips and temporary overnight absences. Residents on day trips will be required to follow public health guidelines such as wearing a mask and physical distancing while out of the home, and will be screened on their return.
Residents who are absent overnight will be required to self-isolate for 14 days when they return. Overnight absences will be at the discretion of the home, based on risk. If a request is denied, the rationale must be communicated in writing.
Essential Visitors
The province is updating the visitor policy for long-term care homes to clarify guidance about visits from caregivers, and to help all homes welcome caregivers as of September 9, 2020.
A supplementary guidance document for retirement homes will take effect on September 15, and similarly clarifies essential visits in those facilities.
Visiting Congregate Care
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has also updated its policies on essential, non-essential and designated visitors, as well as temporary absences, for families of children living in residential settings.
Temporary Layoff Extension
The province is extending the period during which workers who have been laid off as a result of COVID are not considered to have been terminated. Under Ontario labour laws, employees who are temporarily laid off for more than 13 weeks are deemed terminated and entitled to severance pay. The new regulation applies to workers temporarily laid off between March 1, 2020 and January 2, 2021 due to COVID-19.
DriveTest Services
More driver testing services have resumed. Ontarians can now book class G road tests and access all classes of driver testing services at DriveTest centres across Ontario.
Apprenticeships Certifications
The province has reopened all 24 provincial centres for apprenticeship and trade-related certifications. Apprentices and skilled tradespeople can now book their final exams at their local apprenticeship office.
|