Ontario Revises Testing and Isolation Guidelines, Delays Return to School

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, announces changes to the province's COVID-19 testing and isolation guidelines as Ontario continues to see a surge of COVID-19 cases and the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Starting December 31, publicly-funded PCR tests will be available only for high-risk individuals who are symptomatic, workers and residents in the highest risk settings, and vulnerable populations. Ontario is shortening the required isolation period from ten days to five for vaccinated individuals who show symptoms of COVID-19. Dr. Moore also announces schools will return to in-person learning after the holiday break on January 5, two days later than originally planned. He had been scheduled to provide an update on December 28, but it was postponed as Ontario health officials evaluated new guidelines from the United States to shorten recommended isolation and quarantine periods. (December 30, 2021) (no interpretation)