Local health officials urge province to strengthen COVID-19 rules

Ottawa-area health officials say the province's latest efforts to curb the spread of Omicron across Ontario don't go far enough.

Ontario has announced it's accelerating its COVID-19 booster shot rollout, with everyone 18 or older eligible to book their third vaccine dose Monday.

The province is also tightening capacity limits for venues that would normally hold 1,000 people or more to 50 per cent.

Premier Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that vaccines are "the best defence" against the rapidly growing number of cases of the Omicron variant in Ontario.

"Locking ourselves down out of this isn't the solution," he said.

• Ontario opens up booster shots to those 18 and up starting Monday, announces new capacity limits

However, some doctors and public health units disagree, saying further restrictions would go much further in curbing the rate of infection in the province.

"Frankly I was disappointed. We really need to have some more restrictions," said Dr. Robert Cushman, acting medical officer of health for theRenfrew County and District Health Unit.

The health unit currently has dozens of active COVID-19 cases.

"We're experiencing the worst weeks and past months that we've ever had in Renfrew County, and we're only beginning to see Omicron," Cushman said.

Capacity limits forlarge venues should already have been implemented, Cushman said, whilelimits forindoor dining and personal gatherings should return.

Many health units will be imposing their own public health measures in the days ahead, he added.

Cushman alsoraised concerns about the pressureplaced on regional health unitsand their ability tomeet demand forthe accelerated vaccine eligibility.

"It's almost giving the public a false sense of hope that they can get vaccinated within the next two weeks," he said.

Hospitals could be overwhelmed

Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist at the University ofOttawa, said expanding booster dose eligibility is a good step, but also thinks large entertainment venues should be closed completely.

"I think we're at the point now [where] we've got to pull out all the plugs," Deonandan said. "I don't think people understand just how serious the threat is."

Even if the highly contagious Omicron delivers a milder infection, Deonandan said the health-care system could easily be overwhelmed if justa small fraction of those who do get sick end up in hospital.

• Eastern Ontario top doctor urges province to reinstate public health measures

"We have to protect that not at all costs,but many costs," Deonandan said, with those costs likely including temporary closures oftheatres, music venues and sports stadiums.

Earlier in the week, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit's top official, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, urged the province to consider "immediate reinstatement" of workplace capacity restrictions and indoor and outdoor gathering limits in a letter addressed toOntario's health minister.

Ottawa Public Health did not respond to CBC's request for comment.Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches and Mayor Jim Watson are expected to make an announcement Thursday afternoon.