Canada's Ontario and Quebec have announced fresh measures to combat Covid-19 as the country faces a rise in cases that has forced tens of thousands into isolation, made tests difficult to access and burdened its healthcare sector.

Quebec, Canada's second-most populous province, will ban private gatherings and dining out, as well as impose a night curfew from New Year's Eve in an escalation of curbs to rein in rapidly rising coronavirus cases due to the Omicron variant, Reuters reported.

Ontario, home to Toronto, Canada's biggest city, announced new measures to take effect on Friday, shortening the isolation period for vaccinated individuals with Covid-19 to five days from the onset of symptoms, the province's chief medical officer, Kieran Moore, told reporters at a briefing.