Government plans to collect race-based COVID-19 data

TORONTO Ontario would collect and report COVID-19 data based on race, income, language and household size under a regulatory change proposed by the Doug Ford government.

“We recognize that some Ontarians may be at greater risk of COVID -19 infection. This includes racialized Ontarians and individuals with lower incomes,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement Monday. “Collecting this data will help guide decisions as work continues to stop the spread of the virus and protect some of our most vulnerable people.”

Toronto Board of Health chair Joe Cressy said an open letter to Elliott and chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams earlier this month called for the release of provincewide COVID-19 data based on race and occupation.

“An area-based analysis has shown that the virus is more prevalent in neighbourhoods that are low-income and have a higher percentage of immigrants and visible minorities,” Cressy said.

Associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said this data would allow public health officials to better understand outbreaks and eventually control and prevent cases.

Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 would not be publicly identified.

Ontario public health reported 181 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, a 0.6% increase, and a provincial total of 32,370, the majority recovered.

Twenty-eight of the 34 public health units reported five or fewer new cases, Yaffe said.

“The data over the last few days supports our continued and gradual reopening of the province,” Yaffe said. “While there was a slight bump in new cases reported on Saturday — with 266 cases — the number of new cases has remained relatively low in recent days.”

Another eight deaths were reported and the pandemic is estimated to have claimed 2,527 lives in total in the province.