Ontario tightens colour-coded restrictions

The new lower thresholds will push several regions into near-lockdown stage

Ontario lowered the thresholds for imposing stricter COVID-19 measures under its colour-coded framework Friday, in light of what Premier Doug Ford called “alarming” new projections and the looming threat of another province-wide lockdown.

The changes mean several regions — including Hamilton, and Halton and York regions — will move to the red alert level, the most restrictive short of a lockdown. Previously, Peel Region was the only one deemed a red zone, with Toronto set to join it on Saturday.

Another seven regions, including Durham and Waterloo, will move to the orange alert level, and at least six more, including Windsor-essex and Sudbury, will join the yellow alert level. The new thresholds take effect Monday.

But Ford warned the most recent modelling shows the province is “staring down the barrel of another lockdown” and said he will not hesitate to make further changes if needed.

The province’s top public health doctor has been asked to provide advice next week on whether more measures are needed, Ford said.

The move comes a day after health authorities unveiled new projections that showed the province is on track to see 6,500 new daily COVID-19 cases by the middle of next month.

“We can’t let that happen,” the premier Friday. “We must do whatever it takes.”

Under the modified system, a region will be categorized as a red zone if it records a weekly incidence rate of 40 or more per 100,000 people, and a per cent positivity rate of 2.5 or more. Previously, the threshold for that level was a weekly incidence rate of 100 or more per 100,000 people and a per cent positivity rate of 10 or higher.

The province says the thresholds for the other colour levels have also been adjusted accordingly.

The tiered system has faced criticism since it was announced last week, with many health experts including the Ontario Medical Association calling it too lax. Critics have noted that, among other things, indoor dining is permitted in restaurants and bars even under the red alert level.

Some regions have announced measures that go further than the provincial system.