Ontario’s chief medical officer believes it would be ”prudent and reasonable” to assume each new case of COVID-19 involves Omicron.

In fact, Dr. Kieran Moore adds the variant’s expected to make up all of the province’s new infections by the end of the month.

In an effort to limit spread and protect the most vulnerable, the government’s taking steps to protect nursing and retirement home residents and staff.

Effective immediately, all general visitors to lone-term care will need to be fully vaccinated to enter.

As of Friday, all staff, students, volunteers and caregivers – regardless of vaccination status – will be tested at least twice a week before entering.

Social day trips will be limited to fully vaccinated residents only, while all residents can continue to leave the home for essential reasons, such as medical appointments.

For the time being though, residents will not be allowed to leave for overnight visits regardless of vaccination status.

However, those who insist may be temporarily discharged and must follow re-admission protocol to return at a later date.