Ontario Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency in the province.
Shortly after nine am, Premier Ford put the emergency order in place under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
He says in doing so, Ontario is using every power possible to continue to protect the health and safety of all individuals and families.
Ford says COVID-19 constitutes a danger of major proportions and they are taking this extraordinary measure because the government must offer full support and every power possible to help our health care sector fight the spread of COVID-19.
The Premier adds the enactment means all public places including child care centres, private schools, libraries and recreational facilities are closed.
And, all bars and restaurants are closed except for takeout or delivery.
Further, he adds all organized events of over 50 people are prohibited as are events, parades and services of worship.
Ford says the orders will remain in place until March 31, 2020, at which point they will be reassessed and considered for an extension unless this order is terminated earlier.
“We are acting on the best advice of our Chief Medical Officer of Health and other leading public health officials across the province,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We know these measures will affect people’s every-day lives, but they are necessary to ensure that we can slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our people. We’re working with all partners across the system, from public health to hospitals and community care, to do everything we can to contain this virus and ensure that the system is prepared to respond to any scenario.”
“Our government is taking an important step to protect Ontarians by declaring a provincial emergency through the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, establishing Ontario’s ability to quickly implement and enforce orders in the public interest,” said Solicitor General Jones. “Our government will continue to respond to this outbreak by limiting the exposure of individuals to COVID-19 and ensure the health and well-being of all Ontarians.”
Ontario is also investing up to $304 million to enhance the province’s response to COVID-19 by providing the following:
$100 million for increased capacity in hospitals to assist with the effective treatment of COVID-19 patients both in critical care and medicine beds.
$50 million for more testing and screening through public health, including additional funding to support extraordinary costs incurred to monitor, detect and contain COVID-19 in the province. This includes contact tracing, increased laboratory testing capacity and home testing.
$50 million to further protect frontline workers, first responders and patients by increasing the supply of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and equipment to protect them.
$25 million to support frontline workers working in COVID-19 assessment centres, including the creation of a new fund to provide respite care, child care services and other supports as they are needed.
$50 million for long-term care homes & related facilities to support 24/7 screening, additional staffing to support infection control and additional supplies.
$20 million for residential facilities in developmental services, gender-based services and protective care for children and youth to support additional staffing, respite for caregivers impacted by school closures, personal protective equipment and supplies and transportation costs to minimize client exposure and to support social distancing, as well as additional cleaning costs.
$5 million to protect seniors in retirement homes through increased infection control and active screening procedures.
$4 million for Indigenous communities to support transportation costs for health care professionals and the distribution of critical supplies.
NATIONAL:
Starting at midnight tonight, Canada will close its borders to everyone except Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family.
The move is the latest federal attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has already infected more than 440 people and led to four deaths, all in B-C.
There are some exceptions for aircraft crews and diplomats.
Americans will also be allowed entry for now, but they will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
International air flights will only be allowed to land in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, and airlines will have to reject any passenger showing signs of the virus.
However, flights from the U-S, the Caribbean, and Mexico, will be allowed to proceed as before.
The federal government will make up to five-thousand dollars available to any Canadian who needs a flight home or is trapped overseas by a lockdown.
Canada’s chief public health officer, Doctor Theresa Tam, is also urging people to avoid groups of 50 or larger.
Cases of the coronavirus are now being found in all ten provinces.
