Ford considers expanding `hot zones' amid surge in new COVID-19 cases

Ontario reported 826 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including 88 in Ottawa, 292 in Toronto, 186 in Peel, and 72 in York — the province's four “hot zones” for the novel coronavirus.

Ottawa Public Health reported five new deaths from the disease, the most in the city since mid-May.

Friday marks two weeks since Ontario imposed modified Stage 2 restrictions in Ottawa, Toronto and Peel, and the halfway point in the order's initial 28-day duration.

Premier Doug Ford said he will meet with the province's chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, and his health team over the weekend to decide whether to expand the hot zones to include Halton Region, west of Toronto.

“I'll have that answer on Monday,” the premier said. “It's concerning right now. We're seeing the numbers go up again.”

Nor will he ease the restrictions, he said, despite pressure from businesses who say they're being devastated by the anti-COVID-19 measures. “We won't even have an economy if this continues to spread and gets up over 1,000 cases (a day),” Ford said Friday at a media briefing in Prince Edward County.

“We've been advised by Dr. Williams and his team that these are measures we have to take to stop the spread of COVID-19,” added Health Minister Christine Elliott.

“The evidence says that if we take these steps now it prevents us from going into a longer period of lockdown with more economic shutdown. While we recognize that this is very difficult for many business owners, this is the advice we've received from the public health professionals.”