The Ontario government is restricting who is eligible for PCR testing and shortening the required self-isolation period for fully vaccinated people infected with COVID-19.

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, announced updated guidelines at a media conference Thursday afternoon. 

The new rules come as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 drives a surge in cases that is straining public health resources. The province has set successive records for daily COVID-19 cases in the past week, with the latest — 13,807 new infections — reported Thursday morning.

“As cases continue to rise at a rapid rate and evidence on the Omicron variant evolves, our response