Ford, Elliott come to Hirji’s defence over COVID rules

Ontario’s premier and minister of health came to the defence of Niagara’s acting medical officer of health Wednesday after the doctor received a deluge of hateful phone calls following publication of his phone number by a local restaurant owner.

“I really hope people will take these orders seriously,” Minister Christine Elliott said of Dr. Mustafa’s Hirji recently implemented COVID-19 orders on local restaurants and bars.

“Do not harass the medical officer of health, but follow his direction because he’s only trying to keep people safe.”

Elliott, speaking at Premier Doug Ford’s daily news conference Wednesday, said as a medical officer of health, Hirji is empowered by provincial statute to issue orders that go beyond the provincial government’s regulations because, in part, “they know the local conditions best.”

Ford went even further, expressing exhaustion with some critics of pandemic safety measures at a time when COVID-19 cases and deaths are rising in Ontario.

“Would you be harassing your own medical doctor if he said you have to follow these protocols?” Ford said. “The medical officer of health is working his back off to protect Niagara, not hurt Niagara.”

Hirji has faced some intense backlash to his orders that require patrons of restaurants to confirm they are dining with members of their immediate household or with an essential contact such as a caregiver or the partner of someone who lives alone.

The defence of Hirji came on the same day Niagara recorded two new deaths of seniors with COVID-19. One, who was older than 80, was a resident of a long-term-care home.

There have been at least 17 COVID-19 related deaths in Niagara since Oct. 5, all but one being a resident of a long-termcare or retirement home.

There were 16 new COVID-19 cases confirmed by public health Wednesday, bringing the cumulative total number of known infections in the region to 1,884; 186 of those cases are active.