As COVID-19's third wave continues to build in Ontario, Medical Officers of Health in the Toronto, Peel, and York regions are pleading with the province to bring in tighter measures in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
Medical Officers of Health, along with doctors across the province are urging the Ford government to issue a "stay-at-home" order as over 12,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported province-wide since the "emergency brake" was pulled on April 3, 15 of those cases are in our catchment area.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Premier Ford hinted that further restrictions could be coming, but specifically mentioned Toronto, Peel, and York regions. Leading to speculation that if a "stay-at-home" order is issued, it might be targeted at COVID-19 hotspots.
Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health at the Northwestern Health Unit, is unsure if our catchment area needs a "stay-at-home" order.
"I don't know if we need a stay-at-home order in our catchment area," Dr. Young Hoon.
"If people follow the recommendations and the rules now right then that will allow us to control the situation in our catchment area," continued Dr. Young Hoon.
She added that the health unit continues to recommend that people only interact with their those in their own household and avoid activities where they interact with others, noting that is similar to a "stay-at-home" order.
Dr. Young Hoon does note that the situation can change rapidly if more COVID-19 variant cases are identified in the district.
