February 25, 2022

Grey Bruce Public Health modifies their recommendations to employers related to vaccine policies

On February 25, Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) issued a memorandum to all businesses in Grey and Bruce counties. The arc of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, provincial and local epidemiological indicators and the tremendous efforts Grey-Bruce communities and partners have invested in the response to the emergency locally all suggest we have reached the point where exceptional policy response should be phased out.

As such, the GBHU is modifying their recommendations to employers in Grey-Bruce related to vaccine policies, indicating the changing dynamics and noting the following:

• These recommendations were made in response to the Delta wave, when two-dose vaccination was much more effective against disease acquisition and transmission. With the Omicron wave, a third dose would be necessary to achieve some degree of protection against disease acquisition and transmission.
• Disease transmission is still high, but is steadily decreasing at least, at this time. As the transmission decreases, the rationale for requiring (as opposed to encouraging) vaccination (especially two doses only) in non-high risk settings (excluding health care and congregate living settings from this discussion) also declines.
• With the province’s removal of proof of vaccination requirements for patrons in non-essential service settings as of March 1, there would be incongruity for workplace policies in such settings continuing to require two-dose vaccination. Also, as the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, Dr. Moore, recently indicated, the province is considering ending vaccination directives for high-risk settings, further lessening the rationale for such universal policies in non-high risk settings.
• For non-high risk settings, it would be helpful to continue to encourage and support vaccination (moving to a third dose as being desirable), but that the GBHU would not be continuing to recommend that all workplaces universally have a vaccination policy at this time.
• Important to note that in making their decision, workplaces should consider their risk of transmission and medical vulnerability of employees/clients, and also that they be aware that circumstances may change and, as such, GBHU recommendations may also change (such as with a significant resurgence of the Omicron wave, or with a new VOC).
• It’s important for employers to consult their legal counsel on composing their own policies. The Grey Bruce Health Unit does not provide legal opinion.

Grey-Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra is also rescinding the Class Order, issued April 16, 2021, that contained requirements for self-isolation related to COVID-19.

The order mandated Grey-Bruce residents who were diagnosed with COVID-19, had symptoms of the virus, had reasonable grounds to believe they had symptoms of COVID-19, were a close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 or were directed to self-isolate by public health to return to their place of residence and isolate for the periods of time set out in the order.

According to Dr. Arra, The Class Order is being rescinded effective March 1, 2022, as it has served its purpose. As we transitioned our case and contact management to focus on the high-risk sectors, there has not been the need for the Class Order.

The Grey Bruce Health Unit continues to strongly advise residents to follow the self-isolation requirements and self-monitoring recommendations set by the province of Ontario. They differ for people who have been vaccinated and those who have not been vaccinated.

If you have received direction from public health regarding isolation, you must follow the direction.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should assume they have the virus and self-isolate.

“You don’t need to hear it from the medical officer of health; our mothers said it best – stay at home if sick,” said Dr. Arra.

 

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