From Public Health Sudbury and Districts:

The Letter of Instruction that was initially issued on November 8th and updated most recently November 26th by our local Medical Officer of Health was to businesses or organizations that are open within the City of Greater Sudbury. However, persistently high and growing COVID-19 case rates have prompted Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Medical Officer of Health to expand the legally enforceable Letter of Instructionwith additional measures and that the instructions be followed  throughout the agency’s service area including the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts. Taking effect Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., the new  Letter of Instruction includes:

  • Reinstated capacity limits and physical distancing requirements relaxed by the province in early fall.
  • Strengthened masking requirements at organized public events.
  • Strengthened proof of vaccination requirements for those participating in organized sports at indoor facilities.
  • Reinstated the former requirement that people work remotely (for example from home) unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site at the workplace.

This new Letter of Instruction also adds new protections as follows:

  • Businesses and organizations that are open must limit the size of social gatherings and organized public events in their premises and venues to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
    • Please note that there is a distinction between capacity limits and gathering limits detailed with the Letter of Instruction.  Capacity limits that are currently in effect for respective venues and sectors within the City of Greater Sudbury will remain the same as outlined within the current Instructions but are now expanded to include venues and sectors throughout the Public Health Sudbury & District Service Area.
    • Gathering limits (social gatherings or organized public events) are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors as of December 11, 2021. In some venues there will be a requirement to respect both. For example, a gathering limit of 10 people indoors would be respected by a restaurant with a capacity limit of 100 persons if they admitted 10 such gatherings of 10 persons (no more than 10 per table in this example). In other venues, only the capacity limits and other applicable public health protective measures will apply (e.g. masking, distancing, active screening, proof of vaccination). As an additional example, for spectators in the symphony or cinema, the capacity limit would apply, with no applicable gathering limit in these settings. Please note that this is clearly articulated in the Letter of Instruction for every sector to which this applies.
  • Proof of vaccination requirements (for those 12 years of age and over) for all non-essential businesses and organizations for which it is currently voluntary (opt-in) under the Step 3 Rules, while maintaining capacity limits. This will apply, for example, to personal care services, indoor recreational amenities, and museums, galleries, and science centres, among others. A full list of settings is available in the detailed technical brief (PDF). This measure will not be in effect until Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at 12:01 a.m.
  • Strengthened requirements for basic public health measures across sectors including masking, physical distancing, active screening, and contact tracing. For example, masks will be required outdoors in places where people cannot maintain physical distance of at least 2 metres from those not part of their households (subject to exemptions for mask use).
  • Strengthened requirements for safety plans for all businesses and organizations, including detail for what these must contain. This includes for example, conducting and documenting regular reviews of the plan with workers.
  • Food and drink establishments will be required to reimplement some protections from Step 2, including no buffets and ensuring that patrons generally remain seated (except when dancing in establishments where that is permitted).
  • In facilities used for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities, and for personal physical fitness trainers:
    • Returning to a physical distancing requirement of 3 metres (instead of 2 metres) for some activities.
    • Establishing new protections to enhance the safety of the facility, for example, in washrooms and change rooms.
  • Team sports or games that may result in personal contact must not be practised or played at the facility, indoors or outdoors, unless the sport or game has been modified to avoid personal contact. Limited exceptions apply to professional and elite sport leagues or associations. School-related extra-curricular team sports or games are subject to separate measures previously communicated.
  • Requiring shopping malls to reduce the volume levels of music and prevent line ups and congregating unless physical distance of 2 metres is maintained.
  • For those who cannot work remotely, strengthened workplace health and safety measures, for example, requirements for virtual meetings and staggered breaks to the fullest extent possible.

These instructions are legally enforced by Public health officials and by Provincial Offences Officers and failure to comply with these instructions throughout the Public Health Sudbury & District Service Area (including Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts) is an offence.

Furthermore, O. Reg. 364/20 under the Reopening Ontario Act continues to outline the minimum requirements that all workplaces in Ontario must meet for COVID-19 safety. Please familiarize yourself with this regulation as it outlines the general requirements that all businesses must take as well as specific requirements for different workplace settings. The Government of Ontario also outlines on its website, the rules for all businesses allowed to be open to the public at this link. You can also review the sector specific guidance available on our website at https://www.phsd.ca/health-topics-programs/diseases-infections/coronavirus/guidance-for-employers-covid-19/sector-specific-guidance/.

As reminder, all businesses are required under the Reopening Ontario Actto ensure:

  • Staff, employees, contractors, and patrons continue to screen daily for any COVID-19 symptoms, and seek testing if they have a COVID-19 symptom.
  • Individuals stay home, self-isolate, and seek testing even if mildly ill (including contractors and patrons).
  • Ensure a physical distance of 2 meters is maintained between individuals.
  • When indoors, ensure everyone is properly wearing a mask (the mask must cover the nose, mouth, and chin).
  • In select sectors when an employee interacts with a patron, they are required to wear proper eye protection.
  • The COVID-19 safety plan is up-to-date and in accordance with O.Reg.364/20.

In addition to what is outlined above, Public Health Sudbury & District has made strong recommendations to all workplaces. The actions recommended are not required under law. However, taking these actions immediately will further limit the spread of the virus, protect lives and livelihoods, and protect the health system. The strong recommendations are as follows:

  • Implement a Workplace Vaccination Policy.
  • Avoid in-person gatherings, both social and professional.
    • Limit in-person staff meetings and gatherings to only those essential.
    • Implement virtual meetings and gatherings.
  • Plan a virtual holiday celebration to ensure everyone can participate safely.
  • If instead you decide to plan an in-person holiday celebration, take all precautions reasonably available to you:
    • Limit the number of people attending to the lowest number possible; do not exceed the social gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, as required by the new enhanced Letter of Instruction (dated December 9th).
    • When possible, plan for an outdoor event, or ensure there is sufficient ventilation in indoor spaces.
    • Ensure guests self-screen checking for any of the COVID-19 symptoms and stay away if even a mild one is present.
    • Consider the vaccination status of guests.
    • Consider requiring proof of vaccination at private events, including those that occur outside of establishments that already require proof of vaccination in accordance with O.Reg.364/20, and the new enhanced Letter of Instruction (dated December 9th).
    • Require masking and physical distancing, especially if you are indoors with people from multiple households whose vaccination status is unknown or not complete.
  • If you choose to serve food or drinks at your gathering, you should wear a mask, wash your hands before and frequently during preparation and serving, and have everyone wash their hands before and after eating.
    • Whether hosting a gathering at your residence, workplace, or a restaurant, limit the number of guests not from the same household seated together to the number that can be physically distanced 2 meters apart.
    • When guests aren’t eating or are leaving the table, they should wear a mask.
  • Make a list of guests attending in case Public Health needs it for contact tracing.
  • Visit our Guidance for events planning page for more information.

Finally, an email was sent to all hotels within the City of Greater Sudbury that host sports tournaments. The actions that were recommended are not required under law. However, commitment to these strongly recommended actions, combined with additional protective measures already in place will reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread. Although it was sent to hotel managers in the City of Greater Sudbury due in part to large tournaments taking place and case counts in the area, implementing these measures at any place for short term accommodation would reduce the risk of additional spread:

  • Close pools and fitness facilities as these are high risk activities for the transmission of COVID-19.
  • Discourage congregating in floor hallways and discourage group parties.
  • Limit number of individuals in elevators.
  • Ensure alcohol based hand rub is available at entrances to public areas.
  • Proactively reinforce physical distancing and the masking for individuals indoors.

These protective measures will help reduce the spread of the virus, protect our communities, and preserve the capacity of our health system.

For more information or if you have questions, please visit phsd.ca/COVID-19 or call Public Health Sudbury& Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).

Author: Sharleen Sissons