Economic Development News

Dear Employers:

This wave of the COVID 19 pandemic has seen the largest number of cases locally and around the country affecting many workplaces. The Omicron variant is now the dominant strain and is significantly more infectious than previous variants. Although vaccination and booster doses are helping protect against serious illness and poor outcomes, being vaccinated does not mean that you cannot transmit and spread the virus to those around you if you become exposed and infected. This is why it is so important that workplaces and individuals continue to have multiple  protective layers in the workplace, and exercise caution in the choices they make during off hours. Public health measures continue to be our best defence on keeping workplaces open and reducing strain on the health care system.

We ask you to ensure that you and your employees continue to practice public health measures including:

• Getting vaccinated and receiving a booster when appropriate
• Actively screening for symptoms of COVID 19 and not ignoring mild symptoms
• Staying home if feeling unwell or you have symptoms (even when mild)
• Wearing a mask that is fitted properly and covers the mouth, nose and chin
• Practicing frequent hand hygiene especially after touching frequently touched objects and before touching your face, eyes or mouth
• Paying attention to physical distancing markers and signage and keeping 2 metres apart especially in common areas such as break rooms where masks must be removed to eat or drink
• Keep your group of contacts small
• Following sector specific measures as laid out in the Reopening Ontario Act and Regulations

These measures will reduce the number of high risk contacts in your workplace

A poster on how to identify a high risk contact in the workplace is linked below for your guidance. As cases increase we may be required to change our process in following up workplace outbreaks. Please check our website for the most up to date information 3806b COVID-19 Who is a Close Contact at Work (healthunit.org)

- A message from the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, 
Community Health Protection