Canada's Ontario province announces curbs to prevent spread of Omicron 'tsunami'

Staff absenteeism is expected to rise and affect operations in workplaces across Ontario due to Omicron infection and exposure, including in hospitals and schools, the province said. "We face a tsunami of new cases in the days and weeks ahead," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a press briefing on Monday.

Canada's Ontario province on Monday announced restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus as officials warned of a "tsunami" of new COVID-19 cases in the days and weeks ahead due to the Omicron variant. All publicly funded and private schools will move to remote learning starting on Wednesday until at least Jan. 17, Canada's most populous province said.

Retail settings, including shopping malls, will be permitted at 50% capacity, the province said. Capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies will be limited to 50% capacity of the particular room, while outdoor services were going to be limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 meters (6 feet) of physical distance.

The restrictions will take effect for at least 21 days. Staff absenteeism is expected to rise and affect operations in workplaces across Ontario due to Omicron infection and exposure, including in hospitals and schools, the province said.

"We face a tsunami of new cases in the days and weeks ahead," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a press briefing on Monday. "Now we are bracing for impact," he added. Among the other measures announced on Monday were closing indoor dining at restaurants and bars; closing indoor concert venues, theaters and cinemas; and shutting indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms.

The measures also require businesses and organizations to ensure employees work remotely unless they are needed on-site. There were 1,232 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the province, the government said on Monday, adding there were a total of 13,578 new COVID-19 cases.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)