Premier: Trajectory trending “downwards,”
With 834 new cases, Ontario appears headed in the right direction
Premier Doug Ford says new computer modelling on the trajectory of COVID-19 shows it heading “downwards” after hitting back-to-back record highs on the weekend, including 1,042 cases Sunday.
“I wouldn’t go as far as flattening but we see it going in the right direction,” he told his daily news conference, revealing that new data will be presented by health officials on Thursday.
The reassurance from Ford — who is under pressure over the closures of indoor dining and gyms in Toronto, Peel, York and Ottawa — came as Ontario reported 834 new cases on Wednesday, a minimal increase of seven.
Testing was up 25 per cent, as health officials continue looking for a drop in new infections, suggesting the modified Stage 2 restrictions in the four hot zones are taking hold and reducing the spread of the virus.
But Ford was mindful of the last time he said the curve was being flattened — just days before the Thanksgiving Friday surge to a then-record 939 cases that prompted an abrupt reversal to impose a 28-day clampdown.
“I’ve said that before and it scares me, because it comes back and bites you in the butt real quick if we don’t follow it up,” the premier acknowledged.
Experts later said a backlog in testing at the time hid the true picture of the spread, despite numerous warnings from Toronto Public Health and Ontario hospitalizations that the pandemic was taking a bad turn.
Labs across the province processed 30,010 tests Tuesday with no backlog, an increase of about 6,000 from Monday but well below highs of about 48,000 and prompting concerns there is not enough testing.
“We see the curve going down, which is great news,” Ford added Wednesday, cautioning “just because we see it sloping down a bit doesn’t mean we can let our guard down” while expressing hopes more businesses can reopen soon.
Shortly after Ford spoke at Queen’s Park, Peel medical officer Dr. Lawrence Loh said a Thanksgiving surge in cases revealed in spiking numbers last weekend pushed the region into the second wave.
He urged residents to limit their in-person contacts and called on places of worship to return to virtual gatherings only, even though in-person services are allowed under the law.
“Assume that anyone else outside your immediate household could be carrying the virus,” Loh said.
Meanwhile, the possibility that Halton and Durham regions could join Toronto, Peel, York and Ottawa in modified Stage 2 appeared less likely.
“The numbers in both Halton and Durham have remained relatively low,” said Health Minister Christine Elliott.
Halton had 24 cases, up from 10, and Durham 26, down from 44. Hamilton reported 18, an increase of four. There were 299 new cases in Toronto, 186 in Peel, 121 in York Region and 76 in Ottawa. In total, the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area accounted for 81 per cent of the new cases.
There were five new deaths reported Tuesday, including two in nursing homes.