Ottawa Public Health will layoff most of its COVID-19 staff by the end of the year and wrap up its immunization programming at the end of March, as the Ontario government stops reimbursing for extraordinary costs related to the pandemic.

As the board of health prepares to finalize its $87.5 million budget for 2024 tonight, the health unit says the budget will include a winding down of its COVID-19 operations in the new year. The 2024 budget includes $6.8 million in funding to wrap up the health unit’s COVID-19 response and immunization program in the first quarter of 2024.

A report for the board of health, presented by medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches, notes the provincial government has announced that as of Jan. 1, 2024, it will no longer reimburse for costs relating to COVID-19 programs and services.