The Ontario Government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is transitioning Toronto, Peel and North Bay Parry Sound District public health regions out of the shutdown and into the revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open (the “Framework”), with the Stay-at-Home order no longer in effect. In addition, seven other public health regions are being moved to new levels in the Framework. All decisions were made in consultation with the local medical officers of health and are based on the latest trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.
“Our government is taking a safe and cautious approach to returning to the Framework and due to our progress, all regions of the province will soon be out of the provincewide shutdown,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Despite this positive step forward, a return to the Framework is not a return to normal. As we continue vaccinating more Ontarians, it remains critical for everyone to continue to follow public health measures and stay home as much as possible to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.”
Based on a general improvement in trends of key indicators, North Bay Parry Sound District will be returning to the Framework at the Red-Control level. Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health are also making progress, but as their case rates still remain high, they will return to the Framework at the Grey-Lockdown level.
In addition, based on the latest data, the following seven public health regions will also be moving to the following levels in the Framework:
Red-Control
- Peterborough Public Health;
- Public Health Sudbury and Districts; and
- Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
Orange-Restrict
- Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit; and
- Timiskaming Health Unit.
Yellow-Protect
- Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit; and
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
All changes will be effective Monday, March 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Please visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse<>/u
Based on the latest modelling data, the efforts of Ontarians in following public health measures and advice are working to decrease the number of new cases, deaths and hospitalizations across the province. However, with COVID-19 variants of concern continuing to spread, the actions of everyone over the coming weeks will be critical to maintaining the progress communities have made across the province to date.
“While all regions have returned to the Framework, everyone must remain vigilant to help prevent any further increases in transmission,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “The best defense against the virus and all of its variants of concern remains continuing to stay at home, avoiding social gatherings, only travelling outside of your community for essential purposes, and limiting close contacts to your household or those you live with.”
The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to consult with public health and other experts, review data, and provide advice to the government on the appropriate and effective measures that are needed to protect the health of Ontarians.
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Will Moore says
For those who are familiar with the definition of “theatre of the absurd “, we are well and truly experiencing it now !
Whether you are “pro” lockdown or “anti “ lockdown, everyone should be demanding accountability of the Health Unit’s leadership.
It is comical, at best !
Allen Markle says
It’s been about a year since this pandemic was declared. We were originally told we should wash our hands, wear a mask, maintain ‘social’ distancing and keep our circle of contacts small. Since then we have been ‘Open’, ‘Shut-down’, ‘Awaiting a decision’. Several times. Premiers and Prime Minister alike have told us the opinions of their experts although those experts were not exactly in total agreement. We were told there were vaccines coming; we had bought millions of doses, but since we don’t manufacture vaccine, we are at the mercy of the producers and countries of origin.
In the interim we should wash, mask, and keep our distance.
My wife’s cousin in Wales got her ‘jab’ about six weeks ago, but they actually produce what we need.
Until some kind soul asks me to roll up my sleeve and says “You may feel a little jab.” and then “Can you hold this bit of gauze for a moment?” I suppose I will have to wash, mask and distance.
Then on the news a few evenings ago there were people lining up to get shots; seniors, with walkers, canes and wheelchairs, outdoors in winter weather! Was that the plan? There doesn’t seem to be any plan as to how the ‘roll-out’ will come about, but we will do what we have to do.
I’m sure my turn will come; I will get my shot and my world will be able to cautiously expand again. Until then I will…….
Hopefully the cycle of ‘Open, Closed, Awaiting a decision’ is over. Hopefully.
But I don’t think I will be overly thankful to any politician or medical officer of health once this is over. Some I’m sure did struggle to do their best, but they had told us what we should do at the very beginning, ‘wash, mask, etc….., and all the rest has just been talk.
I can’t imagine what it would have been like if they hadn’t had time to prepare!