Ontario introduces new self-isolation rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals
With Ontario facing a delta variant-driven fourth wave of COVID-19, the provincial government has released guidelines around testing and self-isolation for those who might be exposed to the virus — with the rules dependent on vaccination status.
Though the new rules are complex, they contain one basic theme: vaccinated Ontarians will be subject to fewer restrictions and more lenient isolation requirements compared to people who are unvaccinated.
Ontarians who are vaccinated, asymptomatic and exposed to a confirmed case are “likely” (depending on their specific public health unit) not required to self-isolate, but should get tested, the province says. Those people should also self-monitor for any symptoms for 10 days, as well as follow public health measures like wearing masks outside their home. An unvaccinated person has to self-isolate for 10 days and immediately get tested.
Click here for more information.
Canada moving forward with a proof of vaccination for international travel
The Government of Canada is collaborating with the provinces and territories to develop a proof of vaccination that will facilitate cross-border travel, while reducing the risk of spread and importation of COVID-19. Travellers will be able to submit their proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN (mobile app or Canada.ca/ArriveCAN) when coming back to Canada. While the focus is on a digital proof of vaccination, the government will also make sure that these documents are accessible for all Canadians who may need to use them.
Click here for more information.
Ontario Minister of Finance to release Quarterly Fiscal Update
Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, will release Ontario’s 2021-22 First Quarter Finances and provide an update on Ontario’s economic and fiscal outlook at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
Click here for more information.
Government of Canada invests in first made-in-Canada electric vehicle
Today, the Government of Canada announced a $5-million FedDev Ontario investment in the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) to support Project Arrow, the automotive industry’s first Canadian-made, zero emission concept vehicle.
Click here for more information.
Second phase of Connecting Families program announced, bringing high-speed internet to more low-income families and seniors
Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Deb Schulte, Minister of Seniors, announced the second phase of Connecting Families, which will help connect hundreds of thousands of low-income seniors and families to affordable high-speed home Internet in 2022.
Connecting Families 2.0 is introducing significantly faster speeds and increasing the data usage amount. At 50/10 megabits per second (Mbps), the download and upload speeds will be five and ten times faster respectively than Connecting Families 1.0, with 200 GB of data usage for $20 a month. This new phase will also broaden eligibility from families receiving the maximum Canada Child Benefit (CCB) to include low-income seniors.
Click here for more information.
Welland will apply for new federal intake program to fund Dain City infrastructure improvements
On Tuesday, August 10, Welland City Council directed staff to apply for two streams of funding to assist with infrastructure in Dain City. Resulting from a significant storm event in mid-July that saw over four inches of rainfall in a 14-hour timeframe, the City received reports of more than 80 flooding incidents; noticeably in Ward 6.
Options for funding to mitigate future significant wet weather events include the Council-approved small-scale ($1M – $20M) application for the Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund (DMAF) to support the City’s inflow and infiltration reduction efforts within Dain City. The other opportunity is through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) – Green Stream, which prioritizes drinking water projects associated with water infrastructure Projects subject to a $5 million funding cap for total eligible costs.
Click here for more information (PDF link).
Heat warning for Niagara continues
Daytime temperatures will reach the high twenties to low thirties today and Thursday. These high temperatures will combine with high humidity to result in humidex values near 40 each day. High temperatures Friday may also reach the upper twenties with humidex values again approaching 40 before cooler and less humid air arrives.
Click here for more information.
Reading Recommendations
U.S. lawmakers introduce bill to rein in Apple, Google app stores
Financial Post
A bipartisan trio of senators introduced a bill that would rein in app stores of companies they said exert too much market control, including Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google.
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Amy Klobuchar, both Democrats, teamed up with Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn to sponsor the bill, which would bar big app stores from requiring app providers to use their payment system. It would also prohibit them from punishing apps that offer different prices or conditions through another app store or payment system.
Lumber drops to nine-month low, extending retreat from record
BNN Bloomberg
Lumber futures slid to the lowest in more than nine months after sawmills ramped up production and demand from builders stabilized.
September futures in Chicago fell as much as 4.4 per cent to US$482.90 per thousand board feet, the lowest for a most-active contract since Oct. 30. Prices have dropped more than 70 per cent from the record high reached just three months ago.
Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker
These data show the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Niagara. The Province of Ontario is now using a provincewide approach to reopening, and these data no longer have any influence on Niagara’s restrictions. Lower numbers are better in all metrics.
| December 18 | December 25 | January 1 | January 8 | January 15 | January 22 | January 29 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive number | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| New cases per 100,000 | 101.2 | 267.3 | 469.8 | 575.8 | 507.1 | 295.5 | 250.6 |
| New cases per day (not including outbreaks) | 60.7 | 178.7 | 311.7 | 376.9 | 325.4 | 182.7 | 145.7 |
| Percent of hospital beds occupied | 97% | 95.2% | 98.2% | 103.2% | 104.5% | 103.6% | 106% |
| Percent of intensive care beds occupied | 78.8% | 77.3% | 87.9% | 87.9% | 90.9% | 89.4% | 93.9% |
| Percentage of positive tests | 6.1% | 15.6% | 28.1% | 28.6% | 26.6% | 21.2% | 16.2% |
Last updated: August 7, 2021
Click here for definitions of terms used in this table.
There are currently 0 patients admitted to Niagara Health with COVID-19. There are currently 0 patients with COVID-19 in a Niagara Health Intensive Care Unit.
Data are drawn from Niagara Region Public Health and Niagara Health.
Niagara COVID vaccination tracker
Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.
| Percentage of population with one dose | Percentage of population fully vaccinated | |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 82.7% | 78.2% |
| Ontario | 84.6% | 79.1% |
| Canada | 84.7% | 78.6% |
| United States | 75% | 64% |
| United Kingdom | 78% | 72% |
| Germany | 76% | 74% |
| France | 80% | 77% |
| Italy | 83% | 76% |
| Japan | 80% | 79% |
| World | 63% | 53% |
Total doses administered in Niagara: 637,432
New daily doses administered to Niagara residents: 1,331
Last updated: August 11, 2021
Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.
Free rapid COVID-19 testing kits are now available to businesses. Visit gncc.ca/workplace-self-screening-kits to learn more and reserve kits for your organization.
Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.
