The Ontario government has announced a sweeping new assortment of public health measures over concerns of a "fourth wave" of COVID-19. The province is officially halting its reopening plan and will require all hospitals, ambulance services and home and community service providers to adopt mandatory vaccination policies. 

Your health and safety matters to us. That's why we are pausing Ontario's exit from the Roadmap to Reopen. The province will continue to monitor the data & consult with medical experts to determine when it is safe to exit the Roadmap. https://t.co/q8lbdn6bVt pic.twitter.com/QeB1jZS6G2

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) August 18, 2021

Vaccine eligibility will also be extended to all children who turn 12 this year, and the province will begin offering third doses of COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable populations. 

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer Kieran Moore announced the new measures on Tuesday, citing concerns over the spread of the Delta variant and a supposed fourth wave of COVID-19.

"I am sorry to say I think it’s going to be a difficult fall and winter and hence the reason we’re putting these policies in place."

The directive states that all hospitals, ambulance services and home and community service providers must require all employees, staff, contractors, students and volunteers to obtain proof of vaccination no later than Sept 7.

Any individual who remains unvaccinated past this date must either provide a medical exemption or undergo "education sessions" and COVID-19 testing at least once a week.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer Kieran Moore announced the new measures on Tuesday, citing concerns over the spread of the Delta variant and a supposed fourth wave of COVID-19.

“it’s going to be a difficult fall and winter”

FULL STORY: https://t.co/LrtcSU92Tl pic.twitter.com/YNXfWBfhxQ

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) August 18, 2021

Dr. Moore further elaborated that organizations may implement even stricter vaccination policies on their own:

"This directive outlines the minimal standard that is expected. Should an organization choose to implement policies that go above and beyond, they will have the authority to do so."

The province also intends to expand the directive further, broadening its scope to include mandatory vaccination policies for all congregate care settings, public school boards, postsecondary institutions and retirement homes. "More information will be made available to these sectors in the coming days and weeks," said Dr. Moore.

Most universities in Ontario have already enacted mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for all staff, students and visitors, and the federal government announced last week that it will require vaccinations for federal employees and those working in federally regulated industries such as airlines and railways. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that there would be "consequences" for those without medical exemptions who choose to remain unvaccinated, but did not elaborate on what those might be.

Do you oppose the use of vaccine passports in Canada? Go to NoVaxPassports.ca to sign our petition.