In response to the recent trends that show an alarming increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, the Ontario government is temporarily moving the province into Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen, beginning January 5, 2022. These measures will help prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed as the province continues to accelerate its booster shot rollout and will be in place for at least 21 days (until January 26, 2022), subject to trends in public health and health system indicators.

The new restrictions impacting Elliot Lake include:

• Reducing social gathering limits to 5 people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
• Limiting capacity at organized public events to 5 people indoors.
• Schools will move to remote learning starting January 5 until at least January 17, subject to public health trends and operational considerations.
• Requiring businesses and organizations to ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
• Limiting capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies to 50 per cent capacity of the particular room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance. Social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits.
• Retail settings permitted at 50 per cent capacity. 
• Personal care services permitted at 50 per cent capacity and other restrictions. Saunas, steam rooms, and oxygen bars closed.
• Closing indoor meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions but permitting outdoor spaces to remain open with restrictions.
• Closing indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments. Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
• Closing indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms.
• Elliot Lake Public Library will be curbside pickup only.
• The Collins Hall, Centennial Arena and Ruben Yli-Juuti Centre are closed until further notice.

COVID-19 booster doses are available from partic­­­­ipating pharmacies, including Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall, or by calling the Elliot Lake Family Health Team at 1-705-461-8882 ext. 611 to book an appointment. Visit Vaccine Clinics in Algoma and click on your region to make an appointment online.

Emerging evidence suggests that although two doses of COVID-19 vaccine provide protection against severe disease and hospitalization from Omicron, vaccine effectiveness is reduced against this new variant of concern, and two doses of vaccine no longer provide strong protection against symptomatic infection. This means that people who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine can still be infected with the Omicron strain, and spread the infection to others.

The following population will be able to book an appointment if at least three months (84 days) has passed since their second dose.

• Individuals 18+
• Health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long-term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers);
• Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine); and
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members.
• People who live in a retirement home
• People who live in congregate settings such as assisted-living facilities, chronic care hospitals, long-term care homes, First Nation elder care lodges and congregate seniors apartment buildings
• People with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
• Transplant recipients
• Patients with hematological cancers
• Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent

How do I get a Vaccine Certificate with a QR Code (Proof of Vaccination Receipt)?

Starting January 4, 2022, all Ontarians are required to use a vaccine passport with QR code in settings where proof of vaccination is mandated. The QR code can be used digitally or by printing a paper copy. 

Please visit the Vaccine Portal to download your enhanced certificate with QR code, or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have your vaccine certificate mailed to you. Alternatively, The Elliot Lake Public Library is can help also offer laminating services if you would like to protect your paper copy.

Starting on December 20, 2021, Ontario will also begin requiring proof of vaccination for youth aged 12 to 17 years of age participating in organized sports at recreational facilities.

If you are a business, you can find more information on how to use the Verify Ontario App here.

• Follow public health guidelines and provincial regulations.
• All residents 70 years and older, as well as, those who are immunocompromised or living with chronic disease, should not leave their homes unless absolutely necessary.
• Wear a mask and maintain 6 feet of physical distance from those outside your household.
• Wash your hands frequently and do not touch your face.
• Self-isolate if sick, getting tested, or instructed to by public health. Stay home, do not report to work or go shopping.
• Get tested if experiencing any symptoms. Call the COVID-19 Assessment Centre to book an appointment at 705-461-8882.
• Use the province of Ontario's self-assessment tool before leaving your home or if you're unsure when to get tested.
• Only leave your home for essentials and only one person per family should be tasked with making the trip.
• Be patient with local businesses.  They may be short staffed and wait times may be longer.
• Visit Algoma Public Health's website for the most up to date information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Call the COVID-19 Assessment Centre to book an appointment at 705-461-8882.

• Vaccinated people and children under the age of 12 who are sick with COVID-19 will only be required to self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days following the date when their symptoms started, instead of 10. Their household contacts will also be required to isolate alongside them. If, after five days, their symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours they can end the isolation period. 
• Close contacts of people with COVID-19 who are fully vaccinated, asymptomatic and who don't live with the positive case, won't have to self-isolate at all. Instead, they're being advised to self-monitor for symptoms and to not visit any high-risk settings or vulnerable individuals for 10 days.
• People who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised will still be required to isolate for 10 days.

• The Elliot Lake Family Health Team
  • Anyone age 5+ who has not received a first or second dose can call the Family Health Team at 705-461-8882 to book an appointment or find information on their drop-in clinics.
• Rexall Pharmacy - Visit their website to register for an appointment.
• Shoppers Drug Mart - Call 705-848-7125 to book an appointment.

• Algoma Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine information landing page

Parents who may have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to read COVID-19: Children Aged 5-11 & Vaccines on the Algoma Public Health website. Additionally, parents may also call the provincial "vaccine confidence line" through the booking centre at 1-833-943-3900, or book an appointment to speak with a SickKids clinician through their consultation service.

More information, as well as actions you can take to protect yourself, can be found by visiting Algoma Public Health's website. 

• Violation of provincial regulations
  • Call the OPP non-emergency line: 1-888-310-1122
  • Call City of Elliot Lake bylaw enforcement at: 705.848-2287 x 2122. (Voicemails will be checked regularly after hours and bylaw staff will respond where needed)
• Public Health Guidelines
  • Call Algoma Public Health's general inquiry's line 705-759-5404 or 1-866-892-0172 ext 5404

Face coverings remain a requirement in the entire Algoma District for all businesses, transit, and organizations. The City of Elliot Lake has passed a mandatory mask use policy as required by the Algoma Public Health.  There are exemptions for medical reasons. However, everyone should be wearing a mask indoors if they do not have an underlying condition requiring an exemption. 

Cut back on unnecessary activities where you have unmasked, face-to-face close contact with people you don't live with.  Do this even if you are fully immunized, and especially if you have vulnerable health conditions or are not fully immunized.

• Spending time indoors with other people without masks is a higher risk activity, especially if not everyone is fully immunized.  Examples include play dates, sharing meals together, and certain group sports and recreational activities.  To lower your risk at this time, only participate in these types of activities that are most important and essential; do these activities less often, with fewer people, for shorter periods of time, and outdoors if possible.
• Stay masked and physically distanced when outside of home as much as possible, to avoid unnecessary exposure.  This is especially important while at work or school to help prevent outbreaks in these essential settings.
• Health professionals and other workers who provide services within 2 metres of an unmasked client (e.g. food servers, workers in personal service settings like hair and nail salons) should wear PPE that protects your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Pause or postpone non-essential gatherings until community transmission is lower. 
• Remember: a person infected with COVID-19 can spread the virus to others 48 hours before they feel sick. Although fully immunized people are at lower risk of severe disease, they can still get COVID-19 and spread the virus to others.
• If you are not fully immunized, avoid non-essential travel.  If you are fully immunized and must travel, stay informed of current requirements and take preventive measures to lower your risk.

• Virtual Town Hall Meetings 
  • Periodically the City and its health and safety stakeholders host Pandemic Virtual Town Hall meetings to keep Elliot Lake citizens up to-date. These meetings are broadcast on cable 10 and live streamed. You can find a link to the archive of all these meetings on the home page of this website.  
• Algoma Public Health's website
• Province of Ontario website

Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. Avoid travel except for essential reasons.

Visit Algoma Public Health's website for a checklist to stay safe and avoid exposure while traveling.

• Donations for the Emergency Foodbank and Maplegate are welcome at the city's website: www.elliotlake.ca and select:“I want to… Donate”.

• If you are a business owner needing help call 705.848.0229 extension 226 or e-mail business@elliotlake.ca

The Elliot Lake Family Health Team (ELFHT) is still offering the Age Friendly Check-ins program. 

The Age Friendly Check-in program was developed and organized by the City of Elliot Lake. The original purpose of the program was to meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents who were self-isolating when the COVID-19 pandemic began.  The Family Health Team offers a similar call-out and email service for community members who do not have local contact or family to check in on them.

To access the service, members of the public can call the Family Health Team and speak with a 2nd floor Receptionist at 705-461-8882.  

• This is an essential service for those who have no local contact or family to check-in on them.

• The Collins Hall, Ruben Yli-Juuti Centre and the Centennial Arena are closed until further notice.
• Outdoor skating rinks are open. Please follow social distancing procedures and safety guidelines.

• The splash pad at Kiwanis Park is closed for the season.

• Playgrounds are closed for the season.

• Tennis and basketball courts are closed for the season.

• The skate park remains closed, it is under repair due to vandalism.

The boardwalk and docks on Elliot Lake are closed for the offseason.

• Miners' Monument is open.  Observe proper physical distancing from those who are not part of your household.

The Fire Hall is closed to the public, however you can still pick up a burn permit.

• Ring the door bell at the front entrance
• Information will be taken outside
• Wear a mask
• Bring exact change of $5 cash

Fire Permits are now also available online

• Go to the home page of the City website, click on "I Want To" and select "Open Air Burning Permit"
• There is an approval process, once an application is submitted the Fire Department will review within 24-48 hours.  Once approved, an email will be sent to the applicant with instructions to pay, once payment is complete the applicant will get a confirmation email which will act as the fire permit.

Please obey signs and barricades and refrain from accessing all Rio Algom Limited and Denison Mine sites. Those properties remain active work sites and we need to eliminate the risk of interaction between heavy equipment, mine staff traffic and the public.

The reception area is open with a capacity of 4 people for regular service. Please follow self screening guidelines before entering the building.

Meetings with staff are available by appointment. Please call 705-848-2287.

For your convenience, tax and water bills can be paid directly through your financial institution in person, online and via tele- banking. All other City payments can be made easily at www.elliotlake.ca and clicking on “I Want To…” If any of these options are not suitable to meet your needs, you are able to deposit a cheque in the lockbox at City Hall or you may call or email us to make arrangements if you prefer to pay in person.

To ensure the safety and protection of staff and patrons due to the number of COVID-19 cases in the community, the Elliot Lake Public Library will be reverting back to curbside pickup only. 

• COVID-19 vaccine certificates can still be obtained by phoning with Health Card information and making an appointment for pickup or by lining up at the door while following Covid safety protocols.

For more information please visit our website or call (705) 848-2287 x 2800.

• People who need to pick up and pay for a building permit must book an appointment.
  • Please call 705.848.2287 ext. 2119 to book an appointment with the building department.

• To avoid having to make an appointment, you may now pay parking tickets online using the Parking Ticket Payment Form.
  • If you are unable to pay online using our form you may call 705.848.2287 extension 0 to book an appointment.
• If you have any questions regarding your ticket please contact the Building and By-law office at 705.848.2287 ext. 2119.

• The City of Elliot Lake has passed a mandatory mask use policy as required by the Algoma Public Health.
  • All transit users must wear a mask when riding City of Elliot Lake buses unless they meet one of the exceptions as outlined in the APH Frequently Asked Questions. 
• All transit fares are waived until further notice (to eliminate the need for close contact with the bus driver / fare box).
• The front seats of each bus have been blocked off.   
• The transit system should only be used for essential needs like basic groceries or getting to and from work.
• Operating Hours are 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Saturday, late service until 9:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. And Sunday service from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
• Transit continues to perform additional cleaning and disinfection of all buses with a focus on touch and grab points, such as buttons, railings, handles and straps.

Council Meetings

• Council meetings have resumed at the regular schedule via Zoom (2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7 pm).
• Meetings are broadcast as usual on Eastlink Cable 10, web streamed live and archived.
• The agendas are posted as usual on the website.       

Simpson Trailer Park

• Simpson Trailer Park is closed for the season and will reopen in May 2022.

• To book a campsite call 705-848-2287 ext. 2406 or email the Parks and Recreation department.

• Please refrain from using the site as a day use picnic area now that it has returned to a campground. There are other parks available for day use / picnics.

• For all public spaces, physical distancing remains in effect.
  • Please respect signage, ensure social distancing and be courteous with others while using public spaces and facilities.
  • If crowds become too large the City may need to implement other measures to manage the risk and respect existing orders.

Municipal Landfill and Recycling Area

• Municipal Landfill remains open Monday through Saturday at its regular hours.
• There is a limited number of vehicles allowed in at any one time so there may be some waiting.
• The City encourages residents to use the regular Tuesday garbage and recycling pickup instead of visiting the landfill to maintain a safe distance during these times.

Mississagi Provincial Park

The park is closed for the season and will reopen in May 2022.

Please call 705-862-1203 for inquiries or visit their website.