Ontario’s COVID-19 passport system kicked in on Wednesday, and local businesses are still in the process of adapting to the change.
Under the new rules, people will be required to show proof of vaccination to access a number of non-essential services across the province, including restaurants, bars, gyms, theatres, and casinos.
The passport is meant to add another layer of protection against the spread of COVID-19 and to protect those who are not eligible to receive the vaccine, said Sudbury’s health unit.
Some businesses got a head start on implementing the new system days earlier while others have had to adjust to accommodate the new mandate.
“It was a really quiet day today, but I think we just need to wait a couple days and see how it goes,” said Eddie Gorc, owner of Eddie’s Restaurant on Regent Street.
“We started checking passports on Sunday because we have a lot of regular clientele – we’ve found that checking them at the door when people come in has been easiest. It makes the process go faster.”
Gorc said his employees have adapted to checking vaccine passports at the door, and so far, his customers have accepted the new rules.
“You know what? It’s a fact of life. It’s gotta be done. There are people out there who say it’s bull—-, but in my experience, it’s a small minority,” he said.
“I’ve been lucky during the pandemic compared to a lot of places. I have a good, steady, loyal clientele and a lot of guys who come in here twice a week. It’s a lot easier here to monitor compared to most places, I think.”
The owners of Deluxe Hamburgers on Regent Street have found the new passport system a little more difficult to implement.
As a result, the fast-food restaurant decided to close their dining room temporarily.
“We’re quick here. People come and go quickly. Even the ones who stay to eat here, they come and go quickly. Verifying someone’s passport and ID and making sure they got it 14 days ago? That takes time,” said Marsha Smith.
“We’re a small business and we have a small amount of staff. We’re just trying to keep up with all the ever-changing policies and procedures. It’s just not feasible for us to have someone out there asking for ID right now.”
Understaffing contributed to Smith’s decision, but it also had a lot to do with the nature of the business and how the restaurant is set up.
“We have to verify ID at the counter, and then make sure the ones who’ve been verified are the ones that are actually sitting down. Sometimes people change their mind – then we’re going to have to worry about that,” she said.
“Like I said, people are in and out of here quick. To have someone at the counter asking everyone if they are dining in or out – I don’t have the staff for that right now.”
Smith added that it’s still day one. As the kinks are ironed out of the system, she will consider reopening the dining room.
“We just want to be really careful. I think this new system is putting the responsibility on everyone, and we all need to take part in whatever it is that we feel is right to move forward,” she said.
“This business was built in Sudbury and it’s only in Sudbury. As far as we’re concerned, it’s the best town around. Our customers are amazing, and they’ve really gone with whatever is going on.”
She added that the pandemic has affected her business, but she believes Deluxe is lucky to be able to offer drive-thru and takeout services.
“We’re just happy to be here and be open. We’re going to keep trying our best,” said Smith.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts said the COVID-19 vaccine passports will be required in most high-risk settings where people are likely to have to remove their masks to participate in whatever they are doing.
This includes eating, working out, or attending an event like a wedding reception.
“It’s that extra bit of protection in locations where there might be a high risk of spreading or getting COVID-19,” said Natalie Philippe, a public health nurse at Public Health.
“It will create a ring of protection around individuals who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 or who can’t get vaccinated due their age or to an allergy or a medical condition that prevents it.”
Anyone who tries to access one of these non-essential services must provide proof that they’ve received two doses of an mRNA vaccine approved by Health Canada in addition to government-issued photo identification.
Those who received one or two doses of a vaccine not authorized by Health Canada must follow up with one dose of an approved vaccine or they must receive three doses of the unauthorized vaccine.
Individuals must have received their second dose of the vaccine at least 14 days prior to accessing one of these local businesses or services.
“It takes about 14 days for your body to develop a good immune response to the vaccine,” said Philippe.
Residents of the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts do not need to apply for a vaccine passport.
“It’s basically a receipt saying that you’ve obtained your vaccination – it could be a copy of the Ontario vaccination receipt that you received at the clinic,” said Philippe.
“There is a printout option, but if you have chosen not to print out your receipt, that’s perfectly fine. You can use your email receipt that proves you’ve received your second dose, or you can access your receipt through an online portal.”
She added individuals can also use a receipt signed by an Indigenous health provider or a receipt from another jurisdiction.
Medical exemptions require an assessment by a health care provider.
“Right now, enforcement will look similar to what happened with the mask mandate. We are going to continue to follow a progressive approach and work with our local enforcement partners,” said Philippe.
“Enforcement is done in partnership with (Public Health), Greater Sudbury Police Services, provincial police, and municipal bylaw officers. It is a joint effort, and we will respond to complaints in the community.”
The health unit is asking the public to be patient and kind while the new system rolls out.
“The individuals that are going to be asking for this information have to do so by law. They didn’t make the rules,” said Philippe.
“It is a new process, and it is going to take a bit of time to get adjusted, but just be patient and know that in terms of complaints and enforcement, they have to follow the law.”
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The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
