Ontario eyes new COVID-19 measures
MONTREAL • Health officials in Ontario said Wednesday they were mulling whether to impose new COVID-19 restrictions in response to sobering case projections, as neighbouring Quebec prepared to shut down bars, restaurants and most in-home gatherings in its two largest cities.
New modelling released by the Ontario government predicted daily new case counts could reach 1,000 in the first half of October if no changes are made.
The projections noted the province has seen an upward trajectory in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, with cases currently doubling every 10 to 12 days.
Dr. David Williams, the province's chief medical officer of health, says further measures to fight the pandemic could be announced as the data is analyzed.
But he noted the government has already recently introduced new restrictions, such as closing strip clubs and limiting hours of operation for bars and restaurants, that are not reflected in the modelling.
“We did those steps, and we're looking at even further ones,” he said, while declining to provide specifics.
Ontario reported 625 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and four new deaths related to the virus, after marking a record high of 700 cases on Monday.
Premier Doug Ford stressed that Ontarians still have time to avoid worstcase scenarios by carefully adhering to public health directives.
“How bad the second wave is, how far it spreads, is up to us,” he told a news conference. “And the actions are simple: practise physical distancing, wear a mask, stay home if you're sick, get a flu shot, look after our elderly and vulnerable.”
Meanwhile, Quebec announced 838 new cases as the government prepared to implement 28 days of tough restrictions in three regions, including Quebec City and Montreal.
Beginning on Thursday bars, restaurant dining rooms, concert halls, cinemas, museums and libraries in so-called red zones will close, and people cannot have any visitors at their homes from another address, with the exception of a caregiver or service provider.
The measures were met with dismay from Montreal restaurant owners, who claim they have been unfairly targeted when their establishments haven't been linked to any major outbreaks.
Some have said they face going out of business, just after they've invested large sums into retrofitting their spaces to better meet public-health guidelines.
As cases have been rising in both provinces, the premiers of both Quebec and Ontario have highlighted the need to find a balance between ensuring public health and protecting the economy and people's well-being. Ford on Wednesday said he is holding off on rolling back the province to a previous stage of its reopening plan.