Premier Ford warns of tougher COVID-19 restrictions coming to hardest hit areas

Today, Premier Doug Ford has warned that new restrictions will be coming to some COVID-19 hotspots as new infections, ICU admissions, and deaths continue to rise in Ontario.

“Tomorrow our government will release further public health restrictions based on the best medical advice and as it is looking these measures will have to be tough in the hardest hit areas,” said Premier Ford on Thursday.

“We are seeing concerning trends. Our hospital ICUs are in jeopardy. Our long-term care homes are at risk. We have some difficult but necessary decisions to make.”

“This is a team effort. We need every single person in every single household, and every single business doing their part,” said Premier Ford. To the rule breakers out there Ford said, “My friends, we have to tighten things up. We can’t accept anything less…anyone who knowingly and deliberately breaks the rules, we will not hesitate to fine you and shut you down,” said Ford.

Right now, Toronto, Peel Region, Hamilton, Halton Region and York Region are currently in the “red” control category of the province’s colour-coded framework for COVID-19 restrictions. Some are one step away from the “grey” category, which represents a full-scale lockdown.

Premier Ford has not said exactly if the province plans to implement lockdowns in any of the regions or simply introduce added measures to the red zone.

Provincial health officials recorded another 1,210 new COVID-19 cases today, down from the 1,417 reported yesterday and the 1,575 recorded one week ago. Of the new cases reported today, 361 are in Peel, 346 are in Toronto, and 143 are in York Region. There were 57 cases in Durham, 37 in Hamilton and 35 in Halton.

Other articles from otttimes.ca – totimes.ca – mtltimes.ca