Ontario Unveils Plan to Reopen Economy

Ontario has a plan to reopen the province’s economy after the COVID-19 outbreak.  They unveiled a three step process during Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s daily press conference.

“Our top priority remains protecting the health and safety of the people of Ontario and supporting our frontline heroes as we do everything in our power to contain and defeat this deadly virus”, Ford said.  The stages break down as follows:

• Stage 1: For businesses that were ordered to close or restrict operations, opening select workplaces that can immediately modify operations to meet public health guidance. Opening some outdoor spaces like parks and allowing for a greater number of individuals to attend some events. Hospitals would also begin to offer some non-urgent and scheduled surgeries, and other health care services.
• Stage 2: Opening more workplaces, based on risk assessments, which may include some service industries and additional office and retail workplaces. Some larger public gatherings would be allowed, and more outdoor spaces would open.
• Stage 3: Opening of all workplaces responsibly and further relaxing of restrictions on public gatherings.

Each step will be monitored by Public Health officials.  Proper protections for vulnerable populations including social distancing, as well as hand washing will remain in place to mitigate health risks.

“Turning on an economy after an unprecedented shut-down is not as simple as flipping a switch.  We need to plan this out carefully to ensure we do not spark a sudden outbreak, undo the progress we have made and put the safety of the public at risk,” Finance Minister Rod Phillips said.

The Ontario government will consider the risk of COVID-19 outbreak as well as businesses’ ability to keep workplaces’ safe.  Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams will advise on easing the public health measures using a range of criteria including:

• A consistent two-to-four week decrease in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases;
• Sufficient acute and critical care capacity, including access to ventilators and ongoing availability of personal protective equipment;
• Approximately 90 per cent of new COVID-19 contacts are being reached by local public health officials within one day, with guidance and direction to contain community spread; and
• Ongoing testing of suspected COVID-19 cases, especially of vulnerable populations, to detect new outbreaks quickly.

“It is because of the collective efforts of all Ontarians to stay at home and stop the spread of COVID-19 that we are able to consider plans to move into the next phase of our battle against the virus,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said.

Opposition Parties Call plan vague

The Official Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) called the plan vague, and is demanding more testing.  “The government needs to dramatically ramp up inspections and testing.  They need to get personal protective equipment into the hands of workers in workplaces that are re-opening,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said.

The statement continued credited the Ford government for following public health advice.  The party suggests proactive inspections, as well as testing asymptomatic people.

The Ontario Liberals said it was without direction  “Yet again, Ontarians were asked to watch another press conference that failed to offer hope or action,” the party said in a statement on their website.  The Liberals suggested the Ford government outline what businesses can re-open first, and what social distancing measures should be in place for stage one.