On December 10, the Ontario government announced that QR codes would now be required as proof of vaccination and that they will be pausing all reopening plans in response to the non-deadly Omicron variant.
“As we continue to learn more about the Omicron variant, we are taking additional measures to protect our progress as we head into the winter months,” said Health Minister Christine Elliott in a news release.
“Getting vaccinated and adhering to public health and workplace safety measures will continue to protect us and our loved ones against COVID and variants, but we won’t hesitate to continue to take swift action to ensure the continued health and safety of all Ontarians.”
According to the news release, the Ontario government plans on delaying the lifting of the vaccine passport requirement beyond January 17, 2022, justifying the move by claiming that reopening was contingent upon a total lack of “concerning trends,” ensuring they retain the ability to move the goalposts whenever they want.
Moreover, starting January 4, the government will require the use of an “enhanced vaccine certificate with QR code and the Verify Ontario app in settings where proof of vaccination is required.” To this end, organizations and businesses are being advised to no longer accept physical physician notes as of January 10.
Additionally, the proof-of-vaccine system is being expanded to include those aged 12 to 17 who want to participate in organized sports at recreational facilities.
These new restrictions and delays are all coming out despite the Omicron variant having so far claimed zero lives, with the World Health Organization confirming as much and mRNA vaccines being well-known to cause myocarditis, particularly for young males.
The CDC confirmed today that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has killed precisely zero people in the U.S., with only one case requiring hospital treatment.https://t.co/oVXmMaM9M8
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) December 10, 2021
Nonetheless, the Ontario government appears to have no intention of ever fully opening. This is especially evident given their reaction to a virus that, so far, is less deadly than the common cold.