Ford dodges issue of having his daughters over for Mother’s Day
Premier Doug Ford’s office is not saying whether he breached Ontario’s COVID-19 guidelines when he hosted two of his four daughters who live elsewhere on Mother’s Day.
“The girls came over, there was six of us, direct family, none of the husbands, boyfriends, no one came, just themselves,” Ford told reporters Monday in recounting his weekend.
But the provincial government’s COVID-19 website advises people to be more cautious in mixing with people from different homes.
“Everyone in Ontario should practise physical distancing to reduce their exposure. This means staying at least two metres away from anyone outside your household,” it recommends in a measure confirmed by chief medical officer Dr. David Williams on Monday.
“That’s been our recommendation,” Williams told a news conference where he noted a declining number of new cases recently and other indicators are “moving in the right direction … so stay tuned.”
Ford’s office did not answer questions from the Star on whether the visit involved physical distancing or if the Ford family sat around a dinner table together, but downplayed any impropriety.
“We understand that people want to spend more time with their friends, family and loved ones. Thanks to our collective efforts, we are now in a position where we can start to plan to ease public health measures,” spokesperson Ivana Yelich said.
Many health experts have warned COVID-19 can be spread by people who are not showing symptoms. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called Ford out, saying this is the type of behaviour that creates a mixed message.
“That just leads to confusion and creates uncertainty as to what people should and shouldn’t be doing,” added Horwath, who said she spent Mother’s Day at home with her son.
The province saw new cases of COVID-19 increase by 358, or 1.7 per cent, in the previous 24 hours, according to a Star compilation from health units as of 5 p.m. Monday. The province has almost 22,000 cases total.
Ford had been asked about the concept of “family bubbles” in which, for example, one immediate family could have dinner with a grandmother. In general, the concept implies getting together with another family in small numbers as restrictions ease.
“From the chief medical officer right now he still wants to keep it immediate family. I have two girls living with me, two not living with me, so I had two more there,” the premier said.
“I think if we could keep it to as small as possible gatherings that would be very helpful,” he said. “When it comes to seniors and your parents, use your best judgment.”
Ford faced criticism last week when it was revealed he drove to his Muskoka cottage and back on Easter Sunday to check the plumbing.
Both Ford and his wife, Karla, are in their 50s, well below the age of 70 that doctors say is at much higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
The illness had caused at least 1,773 deaths in Ontario, according to the Star survey, including an increase of 42 from Sunday. To date, there have been 21,947 confirmed and probable cases in the province since late January.