Niagara Public Health recommends workplaces implement vaccination policies, offers resources to do so
Niagara Region Public Health is recommending local employers establish a workplace vaccination policy to protect their employees and clients from COVID-19, and to prevent disruption of business recovery.
With the Delta variant currently driving a fourth wave in Niagara, there have been 11 workplace outbreaks so far in September. This has required many employees to isolate as close contacts, disrupting business and impeding the economic recovery so many businesses need. A common denominator of workplace outbreaks has been low vaccination uptake by employees.
A COVID-19 vaccination policy is the most effective means to increase vaccination coverage in the workplace.
Niagara Public Health has developed COVID-19 vaccination workplace policy resources for:
- Organizations mandated by a provincial directive to have a vaccination policy that are looking for additional resources to strengthen their existing policy
- Any workplace or organization that wants to voluntarily create a COVID-19 vaccination policy
- Businesses that require Ontarians to provide proof of vaccination
Andrew Peller Ltd., Vintage Hotels, Arterra Wines Canada, Rankin Construction Inc., and Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls are among the major Niagara employers to have already stepped forward with a mandatory vaccination policy.
Click here for more information.
Click here to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines.
Niagara Health COVID-19 vaccination clinic to permanently close on Saturday, Sept. 25
After administering almost 260,000 doses, Niagara Health will permanently close the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the St. Catharines Site on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Vaccination remains a priority, and there will be a number of options for Niagara residents to get vaccinated, including:
- Same-day and future appointments at public health clinics through the provincial booking tool or by calling 1-833-943-3900 (you can continue to book or walk-into Niagara Health’s clinic until Sept. 25).
- Dedicated pop-up clinics by Niagara Region Public Health in convenient locations.
- Participating pharmacies and primary care providers.
Click here for more information.
Click here to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines.
38,000 fewer Canadians received Employment Insurance in July
The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits dropped by 38,000 (-2.4%) in July to 1.5 million. British Columbia, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick accounted for most of the decrease. There was little change in Ontario.
In July, one-third (33.2%) of regular EI recipients last worked in one of four industries involved in providing in-person services: 13.8% in accommodation and food services; 10.8% in retail trade; 4.6% in other services; and 4.0% in information, culture and recreation.
Illustrating the impact of easing public health measures over the course of the summer, the number of EI recipients who last worked in these industries was 22.7% lower (-150,000) in July than in May.
Click here for more information.
Truth and Reconciliation
Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be observed on September 30. It provides an opportunity for us to recognize and commemorate the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools and the trauma experienced by so many. From today until September 30, this section of the Daily Update will contain resources and information to aid and honour residential school survivors and their families, and to promote good relationships and economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We believe the business community has an important role to play in reconciliation.
September 30 is a federal statutory holiday. If your business is federally-regulated, you must observe this holiday. For provincially-regulated businesses, observation is optional.
Help and Resources
For those who need support, a national Residential School Survivor Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-866-925-4419. For non-Indigenous people, Crisis Services Canada is available to help: 1-833-456-4566.
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.
The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program provides mental health, emotional and cultural support services to eligible former Indian Residential School students and their families.
Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada reports
The reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission contain 94 recommendations, as well as histories of the residential school system, stories of survivors, information on missing children and unmarked burials, and more. The reports are essential reading for anyone interested in truth and reconciliation and in calls to action so that Canada can move forward. They are freely available and in the public domain.
Reading Recommendations
Restaurant staff seeking proof of vaccination receive threats, verbal abuse
CBC News
Restaurants, gyms and theatres are among the Ontario businesses who now need to screen customers for proof of vaccination, and it didn’t take long for some to report confrontational customers who had to be turned away at the door.
Minimal increase in international travel to Canada since fully vaxxed welcomed
CTV News
Canada saw only a slight increase in the volume of foreign nationals entering the country in the first week after the border opened to those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to Canada Border Services Agency data, between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12, 95,381 foreign nationals who were travelling by commercial air landed in Canada, compared to 79,886 the week prior.
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: September 18, 2021
Click here for definitions of terms used in this table.
On September 22, there were 10 patients admitted to Niagara Health with COVID-19, of which 9 were unvaccinated, 0 were partially vaccinated, and 1 was fully vaccinated. There were 3 patients with COVID-19 in a Niagara Health Intensive Care Unit.
Over the last 28 days, a Niagara resident vaccinated with 1 dose was 4.1 times more likely to contract COVID-19, and an unvaccinated person was 7.7 times more likely.
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: 694,471
New daily doses administered to Niagara residents: 1,827
Last updated: September 23, 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.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
