TORONTO – The chorus of doctors and scientists, who, given the increasing infections day by day, raise the alarm, was joined today by the medical officer of health for the regional municipality of Peel Lawrence Loh.
The arrival of the increasingly cold climate, according to Loh, can only increase the number of Covid-19 infections so the government’s decision to adapt the reopening plans in Ontario according to the “evolving” situation is welcome. “While there has not been a significant increase in new cases in the Peel region compared to other jurisdictions, there continue to be problems in some areas.” One of our biggest challenges is weddings, event venues and banquet halls… Many of the operators are in good standing, but a number of them have chosen to ignore the restrictions – said Lawrence Loh – our commitment to enforce the restrictions in force continues”.
After Health Minister Christine Elliott said that despite the alarm raised by the director of the province’s Science Advisory Table Peter Juni, the roadmap of reopenings would not be slowed down, Prime Minister Ford intervened and denied Elliott’s statements. The province, he said, will suspend the lifting of capacity restrictions — which was due to go into effect on Monday — in some high-risk environments, including strip clubs and venues with dance halls where food and drink are consumed. “Out of caution,” he said.
To create apprehension and to make the mind go back to the deja-vu of the first two waves of the virus that caused the overcrowding of hospitals and intensive care, is the curve of infections that for a couple of weeks has been rising steadily: yesterday the province reported 642 new cases and 5 deaths. The infections reported on Tuesday were 441, those of Wednesday 454. “I hope that if things continue to get worse, all other measures will be considered to keep Peel residents and all of us in Ontario safe,” Loh said, “thanks to the many people in our community who have go vaccinated we have really reduced the risk of infections, we have also significantly decreased the risk of serious and deadly outcomes but we also know that in winter people spend more time indoors and so in close contact”.
Meanwhile, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moor said that even if the case count continues to rise, the inhabitants of the province should not fear a return to lockdowns like those of last winter and spring. “Some people will look at the glass and say it’s half empty, but I say it’s half full,” Moore said. If necessary we will proceed with caution but we will not take steps backwards”.”
The 28-day suspension of the loosening of capacity limits for; she was not welcomed by everyone with leaps of joy. “They asked us not to let anyone in unless they are vaccinated – said Charles Khabouth, CEO and founder of Ink Entertainment Group – it is allowed to go and see a game with another 20,000 people but we are again waiting to be able to return to work at full capacity. Over 200 people we just hired had to start working next week… I’m exhausted. All this is absurd.”
