Stratford and St. Marys are planning to scrap proof-of-vaccination requirements at local recreation centers once the province pulls the plug on its COVID-19 passport program.
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Key public-health indicators, such as hospitalizations and outbreaks, have been stable since Ontario took its latest reopening step last week, so vaccine certificates are expected to be set aside if restrictions are further eased Tuesday.
When that happens, “our intent is to remove the requirement for patrons to verify proof of vaccination and identification,” said Mark Hackett, Stratford’s facilities manager. “We will comply with the provincial mandates and regulations, as well as regulations of the Huron Perth public health unit.”
A similar decision has been made in St. Marys, where politicians have previously endorsed pandemic-related policies stricter than those introduced by the province.
That was the case last fall when St. Marys was among the first municipalities to require proof of vaccination from recreation center users 12 to 17 years olda policy that was later supported by area health units and eventually the rest of the province.
At a meeting Tuesday, councilors voted in favor of following the province’s lead next week, though the decision wasn’t unanimous.
“I just think things are moving too fast,” Coun. Marg Luna said. “I think we should keep things the way they are … at least for a couple of weeks until we see what’s happening.”
Luna had support from Coun. Tony Winter, but they were outnumbered 4-2.
“I’m quite comfortable with the province’s decisions and their timeline to open up,” Coun. Fern Pridham said. “I believe their public-health measures are in consideration, and they are feeling it’s time and I think our citizens feel it’s time. I think it’s time also to end the polarization that’s happening and start bringing people together. I don’t want to see that continue.”
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Capacity limits for indoor public settings are also expected to be lifted next week, but some Perth County institutions will be sticking with current public-health measures, including proof-of-vaccination requirements.
Non-essential visitors to area hospitals in Stratford, St. Marys, Seaforth, and Listowel will still need to show their vaccine certificate if they want to see family and friends in person, for example.
“We’re obviously pleased from a public-heath point of view that restrictions are being eased for our communities and businesses,” Andrew Williams, the chief executive of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, said Thursday. “We are mindful though that as interactions increase we may see a jump in hospitalizations. We just think it’s a prudent decision for us to make at this point in time until we have a bit more information on the impact of easing broader public health measures.”
Hospital officials across Southwestern Ontario are moving forward with a similar cautious approach, including the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance.
“People in hospital are there for a reason (and) tend to be sick or compromised in some way,” chief executive Karl Ellis said. “We have an obligation to protect them and to protect our staff.”
Several public-health measures, such as COVID-19 screening policies and the use of face coverings in public settings, will continue past March 1.
Dr. Miriam Klassen, Huron-Perth’s medical officer of health, acknowledged the province’s reopening plan Thursday but reminded the community COVID-19 is still circulating at high rates.
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“The actions that have been taken over the past two years to control COVID-19, and most recently the Omicron wave, have been effective at saving lives, slowing virus transmission, preventing more outbreaks from occurring, and maintaining hospital capacity,” Klassen said in a press release. “We also know that the public-health measures have had adverse mental health, social, and economic impacts.
“The goal as we move forward will be to reduce disease burden to a level that our health-care system can manage, with minimal public-health measures in place. It is important to remain cautious as we reach for that goal.”