Tougher COVID-19 measures are now in effect for Greater Sudbury, as Public Health Sudbury and Districts has rolled the city back to Step 3 of the province's reopening plan.
PHSD Medical Officer of Health Dr. Penny Sutcliffe announced earlier this week that - in order to address "rapidly rising" case counts - Greater Sudbury businesses and organizations need to reinstate capacity limits and related physical distancing requirements, strengthen masking requirements at indoor and outdoor organized public events, and require proof of vaccination for anyone twelve or older actively participating in organized sports, not just coaches or officials.
The restrictions - which took effect at midnight - do not apply for the rest of the health unit's region, such as Chapleau.
This comes as the health unit's reporting 32 new cases in Greater Sudbury and another in the Manitoulin District, bringing its total to 3155, with 263 "active": four in the western part of the Sudbury District, two in the Manitoulin District; and the remaining 257 in Greater Sudbury.
The health unit's also reporting 46 more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1749.
It's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today.