Medical Officer of Health issues instructions for workplaces and businesses in Waterloo Region

August 01, 2025

Waterloo Region – Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang has issued instructions to workplaces and businesses under the Reopening Ontario Act, to reinforce measures that will help limit the spread of COVID-19 in these settings. The instructions are issued to owners/operators of businesses or organizations in Waterloo Region and go into effect on Monday, December 14 at 12:01 a.m.

Workplaces and businesses have put in place many measures to protect their patrons and staff. We have however seen a number of outbreaks in workplace and businesses settings. Outbreak investigations by Region of Waterloo Public Health and recent inspections led by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development have identified common areas of concern in these settings that can increase the spread of COVID-19.

The instructions reinforce and enhance existing requirements under provincial health and safety legislation and the Reopening Ontario Act, to help address these common areas of concern. As such, among the list of requirements, workplaces and/or businesses must:

  • Conduct active screening of employees and/or essential visitors
  • Prepare and implement a COVID-19 safety plan and designate a management person to be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of compliance to the plan
  • Ensure physical distancing throughout the workplace, including in employee-only areas (e.g. lunchrooms, change rooms)
  • Ensure use of face coverings or appropriate personal protective equipment
  • Optimize indoor air ventilation

“These measures seek to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in workplace and business settings. I recognize it is a challenging time for organizations, which have had to quickly adapt to new requirements and implement new measures,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Region of Waterloo’s Medical Officer of Health. “I want to acknowledge and thank businesses and workplaces for their efforts. Their diligence, collaboration and commitment to our community are very appreciated.” 

These instructions, in addition to existing Section 22 orders, work to strengthen the requirements in Waterloo Region to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

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For media information, please contact:

Julie Kalbfleisch, Manager, Information and Communications jkalbfleisch@regionofwaterloo.ca