Halton Region is asking local employers implement a workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy. The recommendation comes from the medical officer of health (MOH) Dr. Hamidah Meghani.
“The rapid and continuing spread of the Delta variant of concern — with increased transmissibility and disease severity — means that we must fully engage to protect our community and our health capacity. Getting fully vaccinated for COVID-19 is the best defence against the virus, including the Delta variant,” Meghani said.
The region provides business resources on their website.
Meghani believes placing the emphasis on the employers is one of the best ways to protect workers who work in a location where they have close contact with other workers or the public. Vaccinations should be used in combination with other public health measures such as physical distancing, and wearing a mask.
Over 80 per cent of Halton residents have two doses of the vaccine. First and second dose of the vaccines are available in over 100 area pharmacies as well as primary care offices to anyone born in 2009 or earlier.
The province of Ontario is set to announce a vaccine passport for residents early next week. Halton Region would prefer a broader “COVID certificate” which would include recent test results much like they do in the European Union.
Ontario Saturday recorded an increase of 835 cases — 675 of those are in people who aren’t fully vaccinated, or whose vaccine status is classified as unknown; 160 are in fully vaccinated individuals.
Halton recorded an increase of 18 cases as of Friday. Three of those are from Milton. Seven cases are confirmed in intensive care units of Halton hospitals. The Region of Halton doesn’t update its dashboard on weekends.