Point Edward, ON – Starting today, the Province of Ontario’s new proof of vaccination mandate is in effect. All residents are now required to be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide proof of their vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings. Public health measures like masking, physical distancing and capacity limits at specific indoor settings should also continue to be followed by all residents and implemented by all local businesses.
“We need to work together as a community to combat COVID-19,” said Dr. Greensmith, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the County of Lambton. “To do that we need everyone to remain vigilant. Please continue to follow all public health measures and get vaccinated as soon as you can.”
Dr. Greensmith notes that cases in Lambton County have been increasing in recent days, and the close contacts identified with those cases continue to be high. “For the week of September 12 to 18, we identified 43 new cases and 324 new close contacts,” said Dr. Greensmith. “This is concerning. The Delta variant is highly transmissible and effecting younger generations. The majority of our current 53 active cases are under the age of 40, and locally this age group also represents one of the lowest vaccination rates in the County.”
The COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy has been implemented for higher-risk indoor public settings where face coverings cannot always be worn. Requiring proof of vaccination in certain high-risk settings reduces the risk of transmission, and is an important step to encourage all residents to get vaccinated, which is critical in protecting our hospital capacity and supporting businesses to keep customers safe, stay open and minimize disruptions.
Individuals who need assistance downloading or printing a copy of their vaccine receipts may contact a local Lambton County Library location for help, free of charge. Those who do not need assistance can download a copy of their receipts using the Provincial Portal.
Lambton Public Health is available to assist business owners who have questions about the current public health measures in place or who need access to resources like screening posters, etc. Please visit LPH’s Workplaces and Municipalities webpage or call the government’s Stop the Spread information line at 1-888-444-3659 for additional resources and information.
As per the Province of Ontario, and consistent with current practices under the Reopening Ontario Act, enforcement will be conducted by local by-law officers and Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development inspectors. Businesses are instructed to contact law enforcement about harassment or threats over the policy. For additional information, please see the Proof of Vaccination Guidance for businesses and organizations under the Reopening Ontario Act.
“Please remember to be patient and kind with one another as this new vaccine certification system is implemented,” said Dr. Greensmith. “We are all in this together.”
For the latest updates on Lambton County’s COVID-19 Immunization Rollout please visit GetTheVaccine.ca.
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