With business owners’ declarations of compliance — or defiance — of Ontario’s newly mandated vaccine passport requirement competing for equal time on social media channels, Peterborough Public Health says the health unit’s initial focus is on education as opposed to outright enforcement.
Still, during a media briefing held Thursday (September 23), environmental health manager Julie Ingram made it clear business owners and venue operators who “obviously are not going to comply and are choosing to defy provincial legislation” will face appropriate enforcement action, which could include charges.
Under the Reopening Ontario Act, businesses and organizations that are required to verify the vaccination status of customers and patrons before allowing admittance but do not comply face a $1,000 fine, with the maximum penalty following prosecution climbing as high as $100,000 with a one-year jail sentence.
“The new requirements for proof of vaccine are an added layer to our overarching protection of our communities,” added Ingram. “Potentially, the business just hasn’t got on board with the public health measure of proof of vaccine. Maybe they’re working on implementing it. If that can be brought to our attention, we can follow up.”
“This is new — we are empathetic of businesses that are working to implement this change to their operations,” she said. “Peterborough Public Health is taking a progressive enforcement approach. We’re working on educating, especially for those businesses that are trying to do the right thing.”
Staff Sergeant Dan MacLean, who also attended the briefing, said the Peterborough Police Service “hasn’t been bombarded with complaints,” while acknowledging that it’s still early since the new proof of vaccination requirement just came into effect yesterday (September 22).
As for anyone who presents a false vaccine certificate, MacLean says the most likely charge he or she could face is obstruction.
Meanwhile, for those concerned they weren’t asked for proof of vaccination upon entering a business or venue required to ask for it, Ingram said they should keep something front of mind.
“All of the other public health measures that existed prior to requiring proof of vaccine continue to exist,” she explained. “If you’re not asked for proof of vaccine, that doesn’t mean the business isn’t safe. There’s a good chance they’re still compliant with all of the other public health measures.”
Ingram added those concerned about a business not requesting proof of vaccination can contact Peterborough Public Health and the health unit will follow up with the owner.
With the proof of vaccination requirement now in place, and with a QR code-based system to be rolled out by October 22, the local COVID-19 numbers are showing signs of levelling off.
As of late Wednesday afternoon (September 22), the number of active cases in Peterborough city and county, Hiawatha, and Curve Lake stood at 25, with 10 new cases reported this week to date. There has been a steady decline in new weekly cases since the week of September 6, when 49 new cases were reported.
While there are no outbreaks in the region, Peterborough Public Health is reporting one new COVID-related death — the region’s 23rd — involving an unvaccinated and hospitalized middle-aged woman who died September 10.
“While case numbers are lower than a couple of weeks ago, the number of associated high-risk contacts (319) being monitored remains quite high,” said Donna Churipuy, public health director and incident commander, adding “This reflects the increased level of socialization that we are seeing in classrooms and workplaces and other settings.”
On the vaccination front, the numbers continue to climb slowly but surely. To date, 110,745 residents have received one dose while 103,214 residents are fully vaccinated with two doses. Percentage-wise, 84.3 per cent of those aged 12 and up who are vaccine-eligible have received their first dose while 78.7 per cent have received two doses.
Churipuy is particularly pleased to see a four per cent jump over the last two weeks in the number of youths aged 12 to 17 who are now fully vaccinated, which now stands at 69.7 per cent.
A good portion of the media briefing was devoted to comments from local education leaders providing updates on COVID-19 related measures and their effectiveness, including Trent University president Dr. Leo Groarke, Fleming College student experience vice-president Sandra Dupret, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board chair Diane Lloyd, Conseil scolaire catholique Mon Avenir superintendent Gina Kozak, and Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board education director Joan Carragher.
At Trent University, 94 per cent of employees and 88 per cent of students are fully vaccinated, with Groarke predicting “Within a week or two, we will have 95 per cent of the campus fully vaccinated.”
“Some cases will occur and when they do, through our partnership with Peterborough Public Health, we will respond quickly.” Groarke added.
As for Fleming College, Dupret said 40 per cent of programs are being delivered on campus with about 4,800 vaccination passports having been issued to employees, students, and vendors, including a sizable number of students who are learning online only.
Unique to both post-secondary institutions is the added challenge presented by student residence settings.
“In some ways, having students in residence is easier to control,” Groarke said. “Residences are very controlled places. That gives us the opportunity to educate people and to watch what’s going on. We have a whole lot of measures beyond our vaccination requirement that apply to students in residence.”
“Our scientists are doing waste water testing at each of our residences,” he added. “That gives us another way to watch what’s going on.”
Also in attendance for Thursday’s media briefing and speaking — as he has been for each briefing since the pandemic began — was board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.
