A somber Doug Ford beings his rare Saturday update. "Folk the alarm bells are ringing." Says too many people aren't following the rules and more decisive action needs to be taken:
BREAKING: Premier Ford announces social gatherings will be reduced in EVERY region across the province #covid19
So caps of 10 people inside and 25 outside across Ontario for the next 28 days. #covid19
Health Minister Christine Elliott says increased cases "extremely concerning" and new caps are in response to latest data that show private social gatherings are driving the rise in #covid19
Premier Ford on rising cases in young people "we are asking you please, stay in smaller groups." Adds if not this will keep going. #covid19
Assoc Chief Medical Officer of Health urging everyone to get on the #covid19 app. Notes tracing is difficult when people don't always remember where they have been (over period when may have contracted it)
Health Minister Christine Elliott says they are working to increase lab capacity (backlog is over 42K) says it is part of fall plan which will be released next week. (opposition has been calling for it wondering why the delay) #covid19
Assoc Med officer of health says government is taking a province wide approach to reducing social gatherings (instead of regional) bc seeing small increases outside hotspot/urban areas. They don't have percentage from social gatherings, but seeing it increase #covid19
On the big question - is this the 2nd wave? Dr Yaffe says the government has 3 models of what could happen
-A big 2nd wave 3 or 4 times worse than the 1st
-Smaller multiple waves
-A slow burn.
which is it? Yaffe says it is "hard to say" #covid19
Dr. Yaffe says there's confusion over gatherings.
Your social circle/bubble (your friends and family) is restricted to 10 - these are the people you can hug, kiss, be close to
In a social gathering (now 10 inside 25 outside) you still need to be distant or wear a mask #cov
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BREAKING: Parents will not be notified of Covid outbreak at their child's school until there is 30% absenteeism rate among staff and students. Focus is to keep schools open by replacing sick teachers w retired and student teachers #onpoli
Each student and teacher will get two rapid tests to be used if symptomatic. More rapid tests hopefully to come. School based vaccine clinics will begin with emphasis on age 5-11. Only 47% have first dose #onpoli
What strikes me after listening to this news conference is there is a shift from the government from trying to control covid in schools and closing them to accepting it will be there. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Moore repeated that Omicron is not severe in most children
Health Minister Christine Elliott begins news conference. She says 2,500 ICU beds are available and can add another 500. (however staffing them is proving to be a massive problem as frontline workers get sick) #onpoli
Minister Elliott says the province will use internationally educated nurses in hospitals and LTC homes to help with staffing shortage.
Minister Elliott says "extra measures" government has taken will make schools safer and the delay has given teachers extra time to get boosters.
I'm in the hospital today for my regular cancer checkup and blood work (I'm here at least twice a month).
It is busier than I have ever seen it before. So many cancer patients, not enough staff, the ones who are here are exhausted yet somehow still smile at you with their eyes
The lineup for bloodwork snaked around the first floor, many patients who can barely walk had to somehow muster up the strength to stand and slowly make their way through it. There aren't enough chairs for them.
Staff tell me many of their colleagues have come down with COVID. CT scans had to be delayed because all but one in the department were home sick.
BREAKING: Ontario begins new restrictions Wed for min 3 wks
Schools CLOSED to in class learning till at least Jan 17th
Non emergent surgeries paused
Gathering indoors capped at 5 outdoors 10
Employees work remotely unless necessary
Indoor dining/bars closed
Stores malls cap @50%
Premier Ford now speaking, says the province faces a "tsunami" of Omicron and is now bracing for impact.
He says data shows about 1% of people who get it face hospitalization and hundreds of thousands of new cases are expected
Ford says modelling shows Ontario could be thousands of beds short in the coming weeks (not to mention health care workers who are getting sick)
Some personal news:
The scariest words ever said to me were "You have cancer". Now 11 years later I have heard words that are even more frightening. "Your cancer is back. Stage 4." I found out two days before Christmas and I admit it has taken time to process.
It's easier because I have done this before. It's harder because I have done this before. But I have hope. (We are nothing without hope).
In February I started a clinical drug trial for targeted chemo. The side effects are tough but...it's worth it. I had a CT scan and the treatment is working!! The cancer is not progressing and in fact it has shrunk by 30%, so don't count me out. I got this.
#BREAKING: modelling from Health Science Table finds control of pandemic improving. Encourages outdoor activities and maintaining some public health measures till mid June. As for re-opening schools, it says it will create an increase in cases "but this may be manageable"#onpoli
"our picture today looks different, the direction of the pandemic has turned." Dr. Steini Brown begins the Science Table Briefing. #onpoli
Dr. Steini Brown says Ontario can have good summer if pace of vaccinations continue. He says models suggest if Ontario reopens June 2 there will be rise in cases, if wait till mid June better it will be better. He calls them "challenging tradeoffs, none of them without risk"