Indigenous Service Canada Provides Public Health Update COVID-19 – Back to School, Vaccination, Public Heath Measures to minimize another wave

COVID-19 Variants of Concern (VOCs) have been circulating in Ontario and the Delta variant (also known as the variant first identified in India) is now the dominant variant of COVID-19 in ON.

Some communities (outside James & Hudson Bay region) have seen outbreaks of the Delta variant. It has been confirmed that it is even more transmissible than the Alpha variant, and that 2 doses of vaccine provide much more protection than one dose.

Although fully vaccinated persons can still get infected with the Delta variant, they are much less likely to need hospital care and become severely ill.

Almost all persons now requiring hospitalization with COVID-19 are not vaccinated, or have only received one dose.
As we prepare for back to school, it is becoming even more important that all people 12 and over get their 2 doses, so that we keep community transmission down and protect children younger than 12. By doing this we can support kids in having a normal and healthy school year until they can be vaccinated.

Ontario has released its back to school guidance, and emphasized the importance of screening for symptoms and masking as key measures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in schools. For more information, please visit this site; https://www.ontario.ca/document/covid-19-health-safety-and-operational-guidance-schools-2021-2022