Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information in French in the regions served by Entity 3: Toronto, Peel, Halton, Dufferin and Caledon.
COVID - NEW MEASURES IN TORONTO AND CANADA
COVID – December 17, 2021
TORONTO: The City of Toronto passed a vote yesterday to extend the wearing of masks in all public facilities until April 2022. https://www.toronto.ca/news/toronto-city-council-approves-extension-of-covid-19-bylaws-until-april-2022/. Toronto will also be holding fly-in clinics for booster shots. The City of Brampton has the same mandate until April 2022. No news for Peel and Halton regions.
CANADA: The federal government is urging Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada for the next 4 weeks, noting that the spread of the Omicron variant could result in border restrictions in many countries, including Canada. Among other measures, restrictions on 72-hour travel abroad (including the United States) have been reinstated. Voir https://voyage.gc.ca/voyage-covid?_ga=2.211571797.1730151501.1639666292-104727708.1639666292&_gac=1.12528326.1639666292.Cj0KCQiA5OuNBhCRARIsACgaiqXwp9LErs74gSEM1Y2BJYRQsSU8j0OoD2a8i6UEH-icSuamyN_gduIaAgASEALw_wcB
BOOSTER DOSES AVAILABLE MORE QUICKLY TO ALL AND REDUCED INTERVAL TO 3 MONTHS
COVID – December 17, 2021. The Government of Ontario is responding to the rising number of cases of COVID and the threat of the Omicron variant by immediately making booster shots available to all Ontario residents 18 years of age and older beginning Monday, December 20, 2021. That’s two weeks earlier than expected. Make an appointment at the provincial portal https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/ or at selected pharmacies.
In addition, the government is reducing the waiting time between vaccinations from 6 months to just 3 months.
There will also be a free testing blitz starting today, December 16, and temporary testing sites at select LCBO locations. There will also be temporary testing sites in shopping malls, Christmas markets and other locations. See https://www.ontario.ca/fr/page/cale ndrier-des-fetes-pour-les-tests-antigeniques-rapides
New restrictive measures related to the Omicron variant
COVID – December 14, 2021,
The Ontario government has announced immediate restrictions on long-term care and retirement homes. As of today, ALL visitors must be fully vaccinated.
The government is putting these measures in place because of the alarming spread of the Omicron variant.
In addition, as of December 17, all employees, volunteers and caregivers of these institutions will be required to be tested for COVID twice a week and at all entrances to their respective facilities, regardless of their immunization status. And all visitors will have to present a negative test on arrival. The number of visitors will also be limited to 2 people at a time.
Effective December 22, 2021, rapid antigen tests will be required for staff, volunteers, contractors, essential caregivers and visitors prior to entering the facility.
Booster eligibility - even more accessible
Monday 13 December 2021
The Ontario Ministry of Health announced about 10 days ago that it is expanding access to booster shots of COVID-19 to people 50 years of age and older and those at high risk of immune system damage starting today, December 13, 2021.
Eligible individuals will be able to book an appointment for the vaccine through the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal at https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/?la=fr. They can also call the Provincial Vaccination InfoCentre, or visit selected pharmacies ( https://covid-19.ontario.ca/emplacements-pour-la-vaccination ) and primary care facilities.
In addition, on Friday, December 10, the Ministry also announced that it is again extending eligibility for booster shots to Ontarians 18 years of age and older as of January 4, 2022. Appointments for these vaccines can be made 6 months after the second vaccine, regardless of the manufacturer.
Accelerated eligibility for booster shots for people 50 years and older
Thursday, December 2, 2021
The Ontario Ministry of Health announced today that it is expanding access to COVID-19booster shots to people 50 years of age and older and those at high risk of immune system damage.
Conference on Covid-19 and vaccination on April 24, 2021, at 2:00 pm
Dr. Samantha Hill, a cardiac surgeon and President of the Ontario Medical Association, will address the audience in French.
Beware of fraud
Unscrupulous individuals want to sell you products to protect you from the virus or offer you treatments to cure it. There is currently no scientific demonstration of these approaches.
Ontario calls on all health care professionals
Controlling COVID-19 requires additional human resources. Retired and internationally trained professionals are encouraged to visit the pages below:
Health Human Resources Matching Portal
Regional and local information
Toronto Public Health
To get the latest information for Ontario, click on the word Translate at the bottom of the page and choose the language of your choice (French or other).
Toronto - Covid19 - Support
Go to the bottom of the page, then click on Translate, to get the info in French.
Seniors’ Support Line 1-877-621-2077 – choose the French option – available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
FindHelp 211
Telephone and online referral services – covering Peel, Toronto and York-Simcoe regions
Centre francophone du Grand Toronto
Heritage Drop-In Centres
Peel Public Health
Credit Valley Family Health Team – Mississauga
Provincial Information
Ontario Ministry of Health
The latest information for the province. You can do a coronavirus self-assessment (Covid-19)
Ontario Public Health
The latest information for the province
Mental health resources, financial support and more – information compiled by the Government of Ontario
Assemblée francophone de l'Ontario (AFO)
Resources and webinar schedule
Association of Psychologists of Ontario (APO)
Mental health support is available free of charge as part of the pandemic; for French-speaking psychologists in your area, use the form on the site (Find a psychologist).
Ontario Telemedicine Network
Addiction and Mental Health Evidence Exchange Network (the EENet team)
ÉLAN Ontario
Volunteering during the pandemic
CMHA Ontario: Provincial Mental Health Support
For people with #mentalhealth problems or addictions: don’t hesitate to ask for help. Know that help is always available and that CMHA is there to provide programs and services
National information
Health Canada and the Canadian Public Health Agency
The latest information in the country
Public Health Canada
General Information
Health Canada - Homemade Masks ? Find out more!
Considerations for using homemade masks to protect yourself from COVID-19. Notice to the public and health professionals
Canadian Mental Health Association
Resources for mental wellness during the pandemic (pdf)
Other
World Health Organization (WHO)
The latest information from around the world
Radio-Canada - Les Décrypteurs
CBC’s public broadcasting program (available online) that sorts out the true from the false of popular information about COVID-19.
Pandemic COVID-19 Glossary
A tool that introduces vocabulary for those responsible for disseminating information in the context of the pandemic (Living document). Termium Plus.
COVID-19 Technology Guide for Seniors
Prepared pro bono by local artist and author, Mélanie Guillaume – NOTE: this is not an official government document, but it contains good advice and many tips.