COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
| COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario | |
|---|---|
(clockwise from top)
| |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Ontario, Canada |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Index case | Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto |
| Arrival date | January 22, 2020 (1 year, 7 months, 1 week and 1 day) |
| Confirmed cases | 558,101 |
| Active cases | 4,447 |
| Recovered | 544,204 |
Deaths | 9,450 |
| Fatality rate | 1.69% |
| Vaccinations |
|
| Government website | |
| Government of Ontario | |
The COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canada was announced on January 25, 2020, involving a traveller who had recently returned to Toronto from travel in China, including Wuhan.[1] Ontario has had the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Canada's provinces and territories, but due to having the largest population, only ranks fourth adjusted per capita.[2]
Timeline
A state of emergency was declared by Premier Doug Ford on March 17, 2020, as a result of increasing transmission province-wide.[3] This included the gradual implementation of restrictions on gatherings and commerce. On April 3, 2020, the province released modelling projecting that over the full course of the pandemic, 100,000 deaths would occur in Ontario with no public health measures and 3,000–15,000 deaths would likely occur with public health measures.[4] From late spring to early summer, the majority of the deaths were residents of long-term care homes.[4] In late April 2020, one out of five of all long-term care homes in Ontario had an outbreak[4] and 70 percent to 80 percent of all COVID-19 deaths had been in retirement and long-term care homes.[5] Following medical assistance and observation by the Canadian Armed Forces, the military released a report detailing "a number of medical, professional and technical issues" amongst 'for-profit' long-term-care homes including neglect, lack of equipment and allegations of elder abuse.[6]
From May through August 2020, the province instituted a three-stage plan to lift economic restrictions, subject to the employment of social distancing and other guidelines, and continued restrictions on the sizes of gatherings. The state of emergency was lifted on July 24, 2020.[7] A plan was implemented for the return-to-class of public schools, involving more than 2 million children.[8] In early September 2020, the province showed a significant increase in new cases, along with similar spikes in provinces across the country.[9] Ontario began to reintroduce some restrictions, initially and particularly in the hotspots of Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Ottawa. In early November, the province unveiled a new five-tiered colour-coded "response framework". The framework was created initially in contradiction to the metrics suggested to political officials by Public Health Ontario[10] and later amended by the province to lower thresholds in each category.[11]
From late November to mid-December 2020, the province began placing regions in rolling lockdowns, culminating in a province-wide shutdown beginning Boxing Day.[12] Due to the post-winter holiday surge of new infections, Premier Ford declared Ontario's second state of emergency on January 12, 2021,[13] which was lifted February 10,[14] and a stay-at-home order effective January 14,[13] which was phased out regionally between February 10 and March 8.[14] Regions then returned to individual categories in the response framework.
Following Health Canada's approval of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the mRNA-1273 vaccine developed by Moderna, widespread plans for vaccinations began during the week of December 14, 2020.[15] Early vaccination efforts were highly criticized. However, the province now leads the nation in doses administered.[16] Due to a shortage of both approved vaccines in late January and early February, vaccinations slowed significantly for a number of weeks.[17] In late February 2021, shipments of the two approved vaccines at the time increased significantly,[18] and on February 26, 2021, Health Canada approved the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use[19] and on March 5, 2021, approved the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for a total of four approved vaccines.[20] Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines began to be administered in pharmacies and family health practices March 10, 2021.[21]
In mid-March 2021, the Ontario Hospital Association, Ontario's COVID-19 scientific advisory table and Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health[22] declared the province was experiencing a third wave of the virus.[23][24] Following the third wave surge, ICU numbers in late March climbed to their highest numbers since the beginning of the pandemic.[25] On April 1, 2021, the government announced a second province wide shutdown beginning April 3.[26] Ford later issued a third state of emergency and stay-at-home order for the province beginning April 8, 2021,[27] and ordered all schools to close on April 12 (public schools were in the middle of spring break, delayed from March to April).[28] On April 15, Ontario reported its largest single-day increase in cases to date, at 4,736.[29] This was surpassed the next day by 4,816 cases; Premier Ford announced that the stay-at-home order would be extended through May 20, and announced restrictions on outdoor recreation and interprovincial land travel into the province.[30][31][32] In order to ensure greater decline in the number of reported daily infections, the stay-at-home order was extended yet again to June 2, at which point it expired.[33] Re-opening proceeded stepwise on June 11 (Step 1),[34] June 30 (Step 2)[35] and July 16 (Step 3).[36]
On May 20, 2021, the provincial government released a three-step roadmap to reopen the economy based on vaccination rate goals.[37]
Provincial government response
On March 15, 2020, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) ordered the closure of all provincial casinos.[38] On March 17, Premier Ford declared a provincial state of emergency, prohibiting public gatherings larger than 50 people, and ordering the closure of all schools, child care services, libraries, indoor recreation facilities, dine-in bars and restaurants, and all cinemas, theatres, and concert venues. Ford stated the "vast majority" of businesses were not affected by the order, promising that "essential services and essential needs will be available to every individual and families.[39]
On March 20, further measures were announced, including waiving the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage,[40] the launch of an e-learning portal,[41] and extended privileges for hospitals to re-deploy staff.[42]
On March 23, Ford ordered all "non-essential" businesses closed by 11:59 p.m.[43] A list of 74 "essential" businesses was published later in the day.[44][45][46] On March 27 at 2:00 p.m. ET, Alert Ready was activated on all radio stations, television broadcasters and LTE wireless networks in Ontario, broadcasting an emergency alert warning those returning from international travel of their obligation to self-isolate for 14 days under the Quarantine Act.[47]
On March 30, the Ontario government extended the state of emergency through April 13, and also ordered the province-wide closure of all outdoor recreational amenities, including beaches, playgrounds and sports facilities (several Ontario municipalities including Toronto, had already ordered similar closures of their recreational amenities several days prior to the province-wide order).[48]
On April 3, it was announced the number of "essential" businesses would be reduced to 44 beginning 11:59 p.m. on April 4; this included Ontario Cannabis Store and the halting of most non-essential construction, including industrial construction, and residential construction that did not begin before April 4, but excluding "critical" infrastructure projects.[49][50][51] On May 27, all existing public health orders were extended through June 9, 2020.[52]
On April 27, Premier Ford released "A Framework for Reopening our Province", a roadmap detailing a "gradual" lifting of economic restrictions. The process was divided into three stages, with the first intending to allow reopening outdoor spaces, businesses that can "immediately meet or modify operations" to allow a larger number of participants in certain types of gatherings and allow the resumption of some non-elective medical procedures. Stage 2 would allow additional businesses and outdoor spaces to reopen, and increase the limit on participants in gatherings. Stage 3 would contain further relaxation of prior restrictions, although restrictions on large public gatherings will remain in place indefinitely.[53] After the process began in mid-May, the entirety of the province reached Stage 3 in mid-August.[54]
On June 12, Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams issued guidelines for "social circles" — allowance for families to expand their interactions with up to 10 people (including themselves) from outside of their immediate household.[55]
On September 17, in response to a surge in new cases in parts of the province, it was announced that the maximum size of "unmonitored social gatherings and organized public events" in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto regions would be reduced from 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors, to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. Organizers of events that violate this restriction can be fined a minimum of $10,000, on top of the existing $750 fine for violating Ontario public health orders. Ford stated that the rule was primarily intended to target events occurring in parks and private locations, and that staffed facilities not targeted under the rule (such as banquet halls, cinemas, convention centres, and restaurants) have employed safety protocols compliant with the province's health guidance.[56]
On September 19, the aforementioned restrictions on private gatherings were extended province-wide.[57] On September 25, it was announced that effective September 26 province-wide, strip clubs would be ordered closed, and that all bars, restaurants and nightclubs would be required to end the sale of alcoholic beverages at 11:00 p.m. and close their dining rooms between midnight and 5:00 a.m. nightly.[58]
On October 2, Premier Ford announced that the wearing of face masks would become mandatory province-wide in all public spaces and workplaces when social distancing is not possible, effective October 3. A number of health regions had already implemented similar mandates at the regional level.[59]
In addition, new restrictions were introduced in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto regions; bars and restaurants must collect contact information from all patrons for contact tracing purposes, and are capped at a capacity of 100 people and six patrons per table. Event facilities were capped at a capacity of 50 people total (rather than 50 per room) and also subject to the six-person cap. Gyms are also capped at 50 patrons, and exercise classes were capped at 10.[59]
Due to heightened cases in the regions, Peel, Ottawa, and Toronto were rolled back to Modified Stage 2 from October 10 to November 7, reinstating closures of indoor dining areas, casinos, cinemas and theatres, gyms, and personal care services that require the removal of face masks. All gatherings are capped at 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors, and team sports are restricted to practices only, with scrimmages and games prohibited. Wedding receptions were also prohibited following the Thanksgiving long weekend. Schools and places of worship will continue operations.[60][61] On October 16, it was announced that York Region would also be placed under Modified Stage 2 beginning October 19.[62]
On November 25, a report was released by Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk which found that Ontario's initial response to COVID-19 was "slower and more reactive relative to most other provinces and many other international jurisdictions" (in contrast to its response to the SARS outbreak). The report found that Public Health Ontario had a "diminished role" in the response, including the province's Central Co-ordination Table for COVID-19 consisting largely of deputy ministers rather than public health officials such as Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams (who acted primarily on the advice of Ontario's Health Command Table), and ignoring recommendations made by public health officials.[63][64]
Schools and daycares
On March 12, 2020, the provincial government announced that publicly funded schools would be closed for an additional two weeks after March Break until April 5.[65] On March 24, Premier Ford announced that the reopening of schools would be delayed indefinitely past the original April 6 target.[66]
On March 31, Premier Ford announced that in-person classes would remain suspended through at least May 4; in tandem, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced the second phase of its "Learn from Home" program, which would involve "teacher-led" instruction delivered via distance education.[67]
On April 14, Premier Ford delayed the reopening of public schools once again.[68] On April 26, it was announced that there were plans to resume in-person classes on May 31.[69] On May 19, Premier Ford announced that all public schools would remain closed through the end of the semester, with plans to pursue in-person classes when the next school year begins in September 2020.[70]
Fall semester 2020
For the next school year, Lecce presented three scenarios: full online learning, a hybrid of online and in-class learning, and a return to full-time in-class learning.[71] On July 30, it was announced that elementary schools would return to class full-time, while high schools in 24 districts with higher enrollment would use a hybrid model, alternating daily between in-person and online instruction to reduce class sizes, with physical classes conducted in cohorts of 15 students each. Students in grade 4 and higher would be required to wear a face mask, parents would have the option to opt out of in-person classes in favour of online classes, and high school students with special needs would be able to attend in-person daily if they are not capable of using remote learning.[72] The province allocated $309 million in funding to cover the costs of additional cleaning supplies, protective equipment, and staffing.[73]
The plan faced criticism from parents, educators, and health care professionals, noting that some schools had insufficient ventilation and that there was no reduction in elementary school class sizes—with only one metre of distancing specified between desks. Lecce stated that the distance of desks was in conjunction with the use of masks. The hashtag "#UnsafeSeptember" was used on Twitter to publicize concerns regarding the back-to-school plan.[73] A poll conducted by Maru/Blue in mid-August suggested 38 percent of parents surveyed were not going to send their children back to school, and a majority believed they stood with teachers and that there should be a staggered start to the school year.[74][75][76]
On August 26, details were issued regarding how positive cases will be handled. In the event of a positive case, the entire cohort will be dismissed and required to self-isolate for 14 days. Students may return to class if they have not developed symptoms during the 14-day period. However, they will not be required to receive a test. Schools may be shut down entirely if the local health unit determines that "potential widespread transmission" is occurring.[77] The same day, the federal government announced a $2 billion funding toward schools in Canada, of which Ontario will receive $763 million with the first tranche of $381 million arriving in the fall.[77]
The Toronto District School Board, Canada's largest, debated and later decided to delay the reopening of schools until September 15, one week later than the initial September 8 date.[78][79] A survey by the board suggested 70 percent of students would be returning to in class school and 30 percent of students would be opting for learning from home.[80]
On September 8, schools opened for many parts of the province, using preventive measures such as masks, physical distancing in classrooms, and remote learning. Teachers in a Mississauga Catholic school were reported as briefly refusing to work until proper personal protective equipment was provided.[80][81]
On September 11, the Ontario government released a website to track COVID-19 infections in public schools and daycares.[82]
By the end of the second week of school reopening, the government has reported 72 cases of COVID-19 in 60 schools and one school closure in Pembroke in Renfrew County in Eastern Ontario.[83]
The last day of class for public schools in 2020 was December 18, the province closed the fall semester with 7,292 cases reported in public schools. Before the winter break, there more than 20 schools closed in addition to all public schools in the Windsor-Essex region.[84]
Winter/Spring 2021 semester
Due to Provincewide Shutdown, all public schools in the northern half of the province were closed to in-person classes until at least January 11, 2021, and the southern half of the province until at least January 25, 2021.[85][86][87] Some schools in the north voluntarily remained closed as a precaution.[88]
On January 12, the return to in-person classes in Hamilton, Peel, Toronto, Windsor-Essex, and York was delayed to February 10, 2021, as they were still considered hotspots.[89] On January 20, it was announced that only seven school boards would resume on January 25.[88]
On February 3, it was announced that most remaining schools outside of Peel, Toronto, and York would return to in-person class on February 8. In-person classes in Peel, Toronto, and York would return on February 16 after the Family Day holiday.[90] On February 11, it was announced that March break would be delayed to the week of April 12 ("April Break") in order to prevent community transmission via non-essential travel and gatherings.[91]
Amid the second shutdown and the third wave, the provincial government stated that it was its "firm belief" that in-person classes needed to continue, as they were "critical to student mental health", and that "due to our strong infection prevention measures, 99 per cent of students and staff have no active cases of COVID-19, however we must remain vigilant and keep our guard up in order to keep schools safe and open."[92] However, on April 5, Peel Medical Officer of Health Lawrence Loh announced the closure of all schools in the Peel region for at least two weeks beginning April 6 (dates including April Break), in an order issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.[92] Later that day, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health announced that the Medical Officer of Health Nicola Mercer would issue a similar order on April 6.[93] On April 6, Toronto Medical Officer of Health Eileen de Villa also issued a Section 22 for the same duration.[94]
On April 11, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce stated in a letter to parents that most schools in Ontario would continue in-person classes after April Break, despite the new stay-at-home order.[95] However, Lecce backtracked the next day, and Premier Ford announced that all schools in Ontario must close indefinitely. Private schools were required to transition to virtual learning by April 15, and public schools transitioned after April Break. Child care will remain available for non-school aged children and the school-aged children of essential workers.[28]
On June 2, Premier Ford announced that all schools would remain closed through the end of the semester, but that he would allow in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies in all grades. In particular, Premier Ford cited safety concerns surrounding variants of SARS-CoV-2 as reasoning, stating that "It was a hard choice to make, but I will not, and I repeat, I will not take unnecessary risks with our children right now."[96]
Ontario public school and daycare centre statistics
| COVID-19 in Ontario public schools | # | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Current number of schools with cases | 0 | [97] |
| Current number of schools closed | N/A (all schools closed) | [97] |
| Cumulative total (total number of cases reported in schools) | 15,002 | [97] |
| COVID-19 in Ontario daycare centres | # | Ref |
| Current number of daycare centres with cases | 41 | [97] |
| Current number of daycare centres closed | 8 | [97] |
| Cumulative total (total number of cases reported in daycare centres) | 7,453 | [97] |
Data as of June 27, 2021
Lifting of restrictions after the first wave
On May 14, 2020, it was announced that Stage 1 of Ontario's lifting of restrictions would begin May 20, focusing primarily on "workplaces that are well-positioned to follow public health advice to maintain physical distancing, implement workplace safety guidance and limit gatherings". Certain outdoor recreation activities that are part of Stage 1 were allowed to resume on May 16, for the Victoria Day long weekend.[98]
On June 8, it was announced that Stage 2 would be implemented across most of the province, excluding 10 Southern Ontario health regions primarily in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and along the Canada–United States border (such as Windsor-Essex County) due to a large number of active cases.[99] In addition, Ford announced that the cap on gathering sizes would be increased to 10 province-wide regardless of phase, and that there would be a moratorium on evictions through the end of August of small businesses which are eligible for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program.[100][99] On June 15, the Durham, Halton, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, Lambton, Niagara, and York health regions were allowed to enter Stage 2.[101]
On June 22, it was announced that Peel and Toronto would be allowed to enter Stage 2 on June 24. Windsor-Essex was still excluded from Stage 2 due to outbreaks involving the agriculture industry.[102] On June 24, it was announced that most of Windsor-Essex would be allowed to enter Stage 2 on June 25, excluding Kingsville and Leamington.[103]
On July 3, Premier Ford stated that he did not have a specific timetable for Stage 3; "You see what's happening [in the United States] when you move too quickly, you see what's happening south of the border. We don't want that happening up here."[104]
By August 12, after a region-by-region roll-out, all regions in Ontario had entered Stage 3.[54] On September 8, in response to growing case numbers, the provincial government announced a moratorium on further lifting of restrictions (such as expansion of "social circles" and gatherings) for at least four weeks, besides those already ongoing (such as schools, and reopening of selected casinos on September 26).[105]
First provincewide shutdown (December 26, 2020 – January 25, 2021)
On December 21, 2020, Premier Ford announced that in order to "save lives and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed in the coming weeks", a "strict" Provincewide Shutdown would begin in all health regions (regardless of their current status on the response framework) at 12:01 a.m. ET on December 26, 2020 (Boxing Day). This measure will last for 28 days.[109][110] It was originally to last only 14 days in the northern regions of the province (north of Sudbury), but on January 7, 2021, it was announced that the Provincewide Shutdown will be extended in these regions to the same length as in Southern Ontario.[111]
Indoor social gatherings that involve people from outside of one's immediate household are prohibited. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people with social distancing. All non-essential businesses, retail outlets (which include all businesses deemed non-essential under the "Lockdown" tier of the response framework, as well as hardware stores and pet shops), cultural amenities, sports and recreation facilities (unless "being used by high-performance athletes and specified professional leagues"), and personal care services must close to the public. Essential retail businesses are subject to capacity limits stricter than those used under Lockdown (50% for supermarkets and pharmacies, 25% for liquor stores and allowable big-box stores that sell groceries). Bars and restaurants are prohibited from offering dine-in service. All drive-in or drive-through events are prohibited, excluding drive-in religious services.[111][109]
All publicly-funded schools remained closed to in-person classes (resuming remotely after the holiday break) until January 11, 2021, in Northern Ontario, and January 25, 2021, in Southern Ontario.[87] Elementary schools were originally slated to reopen in Southern Ontario on January 11, but on January 7, it was announced that this would be delayed.[87]
First stay-at-home order (January 14 – March 8, 2021)
On January 12, 2021, citing models forecasting that Ontario's health care system will be "overwhelmed" with cases and mortality exceeding those of the first wave unless actions are taken,[112] Premier Ford declared a second provincial state of emergency and announced stricter province-wide measures, to take effect on January 14 at 12:01 a.m. ET and last through at least February 11. These measures upgraded the Provincewide Shutdown to a stay-at-home order; all Ontario residents were required to remain at their homes unless conducting an activity deemed essential. Essential activities include shopping at grocery stores or pharmacies, receiving health care, exercise, or conducing essential work that cannot be performed remotely.[113][112] All employees were required to work from home if they have the capability of doing so.[113][112] The province states that what is considered "essential work" is based on "[the] best judgement and common sense of employers".[114] Performing arts facilities were required to cease all operations, even for virtual streaming concerts.[115] All other restrictions enacted under Provincewide Shutdown remained in force, and the colour-coded response framework was officially considered "paused" due to the declaration of emergency.[114][116]
Certain businesses, such as liquor stores, hardware stores, and stores offering delivery or curbside pickup services, were required to close from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly. Non-essential construction activity was also suspended. Outdoor gatherings were limited to five people, and guidance now recommends masks be worn outside (in addition to the existing indoor mandate) if social distancing is not possible.[113][112] The closure of schools in Hamilton, Peel, Toronto, Windsor-Essex, and York was further-extended to February 10.[113]
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), municipal police departments, bylaw officers, and provincial workspace inspectors, had the authority to issue tickets to enforce the stay-at-home order and mask mandate,[113] however they will not have the authority to stop drivers or pedestrians for questioning.[117] Premier Ford stated plans for a compliance "blitz" of retail store inspections beginning the weekend of January 15.[118][113] Results of the inspection "blitz" revealed 36 of 110 stores visited in violation of COVID-19 measures, or 70% compliance rate.[119] The measures faced criticism for disproportionately favouring big box retailers, by not restricting the times of day in which they may offer curbside pickup or delivery services, or preventing them from selling non-essential goods. It also does not include funding to cover paid sick leave for essential and low-wage workers.[113]
On February 8, 2021, Premier Ford announced that the declaration of emergency would expire, but that the stay-at-home order would be extended in the majority of health regions to allow a gradual reinstatement of the response framework. The order was first lifted on February 10 in Eastern Ontario's Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit, the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit, and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit. The stay-at-home order was expected to be lifted in most of Ontario on February 16, excluding Peel, Toronto, and York (expected to occur on February 22), and any other area where the province believes it is not yet safe to lift the order. This was later amended to exclude York and include North Bay-Parry Sound.[120]
Even as the restriction is lifted, the province still encourages residents to stay at home whenever possible, and discourages social gatherings and non-essential travel (including travel between regions with different levels on the response framework).[121][122][123] On February 19, 2021, York region was announced to be moving to Red (Control) on February 22 while Toronto, Peel and North Bay-Parry Sound were to remain in a stay-at-home order until at least March 8.[124] On March 5, 2021, the provincial government announced these last three regions would be moving to the response framework on March 8, officially ending stay-at-home orders originally in effect since January 14, 2021.[125]
Regional advisory system
Response framework
Use during the second wave from November 7 – December 26, 2020
On November 3, 2020, Premier Ford stated that future modifications of restrictions during the second wave will be performed regionally using a colour-coded "response framework". The framework went into place on November 7.[126][127][129]
On November 11, it was reported by the Toronto Star that the Ford government had allegedly ignored recommendations by Public Health Ontario regarding the metrics used for the advisory system — which were four times narrower than what was actually implemented by the government.[130]
Two days later, Premier Ford announced that the thresholds for each level would be decreased: for example, the criteria for the "Control" (Red) level was reduced from a weekly incidence rate of 100 or more per-capita, to 40 or more.[131] Regions included in each tier were adjusted to match the new thresholds effective November 16. Ford stated that the original criteria was based on earlier models that had anticipated only 950–1,250 new cases per day by the time it was implemented and that he would not have used them if case numbers had reached the point they had on November 10.[131]
Use during the third wave beginning February 8, 2021
Due to the declaration of emergency and a stay-at-home order issued, the response framework was officially considered paused from December 26, 2020, to February 9, 2021.[116] On February 8, 2021, Premier Ford announced that the response framework would be gradually reinstated to replace the stay-at-home order, beginning with the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit, the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit, and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit on February 10 (which reopened into the "Prevent" tier). Unlike the earlier revision, the "Lockdown" tier will allow for non-essential retail with capacity limits (unless the region is subject to a stay-at-home order).[121][122]
The framework is now subject to an emergency brake, where regions may immediately be placed back in the "Lockdown" tier as a circuit breaker if health officials believe that the incidence rate is increasing too rapidly and the healthcare system is at a severe risk of being overwhelmed.[121][122] As of March 26, health officials may impose a stricter lockdown (equivalent to the earlier Provincewide Shutdown) under the emergency brake as well.[132]
On March 20, further amendments to the response framework were implemented for restaurants; outdoor dining is now permitted in regions in the "Lockdown" tier, and capacity limits for restaurants in the "Control" and "Restrict" tiers were increased from 10 and 50 customers respectively to 50 and 100, or 50 percent capacity, whichever is lower.[133] Additional modifications were announced on March 26; as of March 29, the "Lockdown" category began to allow outdoor fitness classes of up to 10 people. Personal care services were to be allowed operate by-appointment only at 25 percent capacity/5 people (whichever is fewer) in "Lockdown" regions beginning April 12.[134][132] In addition, subject to physical distancing, capacity limits were removed for outdoor religious services (including funerals and weddings) in all regions.[134][132]
Second provincewide shutdown and stay-at-home order (April 3 – June 2, 2021)
On April 1, 2021, amid rising new infections, particularly exacerbated by variants of concern and preceding the Easter weekend, Premier Ford announced a second province-wide shutdown beginning April 3. All regions were moved to a new sixth level of the response framework, "Shutdown" (white), re-imposing measures that were introduced during the first provincewide shutdown. This includes prohibiting all indoor organized events and gatherings, limiting outdoor gatherings to five people, capacity limits for retail (50% for essential retail, 25% for all other stores), and ordering the closure of all in-person dining (regardless of setting), daycamps, personal care services, sports and recreation facilities, meeting and event spaces, and cinemas, and capping capacity of religious services to 15%. All performing arts facilities must close, even for internet streaming events.[135][136] The response framework is paused.[137][138][139][140]
Premier Ford faced criticism over the new shutdown (which resulted in only minor changes for health regions already in the "Lockdown" tier), with Leader of the Opposition Andrea Horwath arguing that it was "a too little too late response by this government to what we knew was coming".[137] On April 4, the medical officers of Ottawa, Peel Region, and Toronto sent a letter to the government requesting that a stay-at-home order be issued.[141]
On April 7, 2021, Premier Ford declared a third state of emergency and announced that a second stay-at-home order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on April 8, and last for four weeks. All Ontario residents must remain at their homes unless conducting an activity deemed essential. Essential activities include shopping at grocery stores or pharmacies, receiving health care, exercise, school, or conducting essential work that cannot be performed remotely. All employees must work from home if they have the capability of doing so.[141] Ford explained that "the situation is evolving rapidly, hour by hour. And as things change, as we learn more about these deadly new variants, as we see new problems arise, we need to adapt. We need to move quickly and decisively. And right now, above all else, our plan is to get needles in the arms and protect our hospitals."[141]
All shutdown restrictions and all other restrictions from the previous stay-at-home order apply. Furthermore, essential retail stores are only allowed to sell food, pharmacy items, and cleaning supplies, and all other non-essential goods are prohibited from being displayed or sold to in-store customers.[142] In addition, retailers of assistive devices, automotive and equipment rental services, motor vehicle and boat dealers, vehicle and equipment repair services, prescription eyewear, safety supplies, and telecom services may operate at 25% capacity by appointment only.[141] Following criticism of photos showing displays of cloth masks blocked by local Walmart stores, representatives of the government clarified that they were considered an essential good.[143]
The order does not include paid sick leave; Premier Ford accused those advocating for paid sick leave of "playing politics", and not directing people to the Canadian Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) instead (which is a retroactive payment), which he deemed sufficient.[144]
Extension of the stay-at-home order and further restrictions
On April 16, 2021, Premier Ford announced that due to record high hospitalizations and cases, the stay-at-home order had been extended through at least May 20, and that several additional restrictions will also be imposed. Effective April 17, outdoor gatherings with anyone from outside of the immediate household are prohibited, all outdoor recreation amenities must close, allowable "big box" retail stores are restricted to 25% capacity, and all non-essential construction projects must be suspended. Beginning April 19, land travel into Ontario is restricted at the provincial border to essential purposes (transport of goods, medical care, work, and exercising treaty rights) only, and indoor places of worship are limited to 10 people. Furthermore, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones announced that police would receive enhanced authority to enforce the stay-at-home order, including being able to perform random stops of individuals they suspect are travelling in violation of the stay-at-home order. They could compel individuals to state their home address and purpose of travel; failure to comply with a request for this information would be a ticketable offence.[31][32]
Premier Ford stated that "I have never shied away from telling you the brutal honest truth, never shied away from tough decisions and today I am here to do just that. My friends we are losing the battle between variants and vaccines", and that "we need to step up enforcement and we need to focus on those who are deliberately putting others at risk by ignoring the stay-at-home order."[31][32]
The new measures faced criticism; the province did not introduce paid sick leave,[145] the new police authority was criticized for resembling carding and having a disproportionate impact to BIPOC communities, while a number of municipal police departments announced that they would not perform random stops under the measure.[146] On April 17, Jones announced that the new police authority would be narrowed to only allow them to stop and ticket individuals they suspect are participating in a public event or social gathering. Despite the changes, the revised measures elicited continued concerns.[147][146]
Criticism has also been raised over the prohibition of outdoor recreation, due to outdoor spaces being considered to have a generally lower risk of transmission over indoor spaces, and calls for the provincial government to promote outdoor recreation for physical and mental health.[148][149] The province backpedaled on restricting playgrounds, but the remainder of the order remains in effect.[150]
On April 20, 2021, Peel Public Health issued a Section 22 order effective April 23, requiring any business that has been linked to five or more COVID-19 infections within the past 14 days to shut down for 10 days. All employees of the business must self-isolate for the duration, and it is "strongly recommended" that impacted employees be provided with paid leave. Peel Public Health stated that "workplace exposures in Peel Region continue to drive the region's high case counts of COVID-19. Expedited closure will also allow Peel Public Health to investigate workplace exposures without risk of continued spread." This order will not apply to healthcare, schools, or other "critical infrastructure". Toronto Public Health subsequently issued a nearly identical order.[151][152][153]
On April 22, 2021, in his first public appearance since April 16, and while self-isolating due to being a close contact of a positive case within his staff,[154] Premier Ford admitted that the new enforcement measures announced last Friday "went too far". He also announced that Ontario was working on developing a paid sick leave benefit, arguing that they needed to fill "gaps" in the CRSB that were not fulfilled by the 2021 federal budget, and that they planned to make it "the best program in North America".[155] The province officially announced the temporary COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program on April 29, providing up to three paid sick days for full-time or part-time workers, and paying up to $200 per-day. Employers will be reimbursed via the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB). The program will last through September 25, 2021 (the last day of the CRSB), and is retroactive to April 19.[156]
On May 13, 2021, the stay-at-home order was extended by 14 days through June 2. Premier Ford stated that the additional time was necessary in order to ensure that "most normal July and August possible", but that this would not allow large public gatherings such as concerts or sporting events.[157][149]
Transition from stay-at-home order and Step 1
On May 20, 2021, alongside the announcement of a new roadmap for lifting restrictions, Ford announced that beginning May 22, outdoor recreation amenities would be allowed to reopen, and outdoor gatherings of up to five people would also be permitted.[37][158]
On May 21, 2021, with warmer weather, Splash pads were opened ahead of the Victoria Day weekend.[159]
On June 2, 2021, the stay-at-home order officially expired, leaving the province with some restrictions, bans on outdoor activities like camping stayed closed.[160]
On June 7, 2021, it was announced Ontario would enter Step 1 on June 11 at 12:01am.[161]
Three-step roadmap for reopening
On May 20, 2021, Premier Ford announced a three-step plan to reopen the economy, based on vaccination rate goals. The province must stay in each Step for a minimum of 21 days before moving onto the next.[162][163]
| Step | Start date | Vaccination requirement | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 11, 2021[161] | 60% of adults (18+) have received at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine |
Sectors reopening:[164]
|
| 2 | June 30[165] | 70% of adults (18+) have received at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine and 20% have received full vaccination (both doses) |
Sectors reopening:
|
| 3 | July 16[166] | 70-80% of adults (18+) have received at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine and 25% have received full vaccination (both doses) |
Sectors reopening:
|
| Beyond Step 3 | Minimum 21 days following the beginning of Step 3[166] | 80% of eligible population (12+) have received at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine and 75% have received full vaccination (both doses). At least 70% of the eligible population in each health unit fully vaccinated[168] | Relaxation of capacity and social distancing restrictions except in certain cases (i.e. Hospitals & Health clinics)[169] however the mask mandate will continue to be in effect.[170] |
Vaccines
Timeline of rollout
Early rollout
On December 9, 2020, Health Canada approved the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines were distributed amongst the provinces by the Federal government.[171] Ontario received an initial delivery of 6,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine[172] of a total of 90,000 to be received before the end of 2020.[173] On December 14, the first vaccination was delivered in Ontario in Toronto, kicking off a vaccination rollout.[174]
Vaccinations began December 14, 2020 in a pilot program to vaccinate health-care workers working in long-term care homes and later expanded to front-line health-care workers. Ontario's vaccination task force later announced their plan to inoculate all long-term care home residents and staff in Toronto, Peel, York and Windsor-Essex with a goal date of January 21, 2021.[175] The government expanded this to all long-term care home residents in the province by February 15.[176]
On December 23, 2020, Health Canada approved the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna.[177] The first tranche of vaccines of a total 53,000 designated for Ontario by the end of 2020 arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport on December 24.[178][179][180]
Over the Christmas and holiday season, many vaccination clinics were paused.[181] The Ontario government has been criticized for this delay, the government officially responded that the cessation was due to staff shortages.[181][182][183] Rick Hillier, in charge of the Ontario vaccine task-force later apologized, calling the cessation a "mistake".[184] On December 29, 2020, he added that the task-force was looking into applying single doses of the Moderna vaccine in order to inoculate even more people more efficiently.[184]
On January 15, 2021, it was announced all LTC homes in Toronto had been vaccinated.[185] On January 19, 2021, the Provincial government announced all LTC residents and staff in hot zones had received at least their first dose.[20] By February 14, 2021, the province announced it had completed at least first-dose vaccinations in all long-term care homes in Ontario.[186]
Manufacturing delays
Due to manufacturing delays with Pfizer (aimed at retooling in order to speed up vaccine production), Ontario received a significant decline in vaccine delivery between late January and early February. On January 29, 2021, another delay was announced with Moderna, who announced that a 20–25 percent cut in product would be delivered to Canada for the month of February.[187]
On January 28, 2021, the Ontario government announced a major miscalculation in reported fully vaccinated people, over-reporting the number of fully vaccinated individuals.[188]
Regular shipments and approval of new vaccines
By late February 2021, shipments for both Pfizer and Moderna increased significantly.[189] On February 26, 2021, the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use by Health Canada[19] and on March 5, 2021, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use by Health Canada.[20] Johnson & Johnson only requires one shot for administration.[20]
Shipments of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in the province on March 3, 2021. The government announced the creation of a pilot programme for administration through Ontario pharmacies to begin March 9, 2021.[190] The vaccines would originally only be used on those between the ages of 60–64 due to a lack of study on the vaccine's efficacy on adults over 65.[190] The pilot will take place in 380 pharmacies in Toronto, Kingston and Windsor-Essex.[190] The first shot of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was given March 10 in Toronto.[21] Registration began in the three regions at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall and Costco pharmacies.[191] The province announced another pilot programme involving family doctors administering the vaccine beginning March 13, 2021 in six regions including: Hamilton, Toronto, Wellington-Dufferin Guelph, Peterborough, Simcoe-Muskoka and Peel Region.[192]
On March 22, 2021, it was announced restaurant workers (mostly young individuals) would be prioritized in Phase 2 of the provincial vaccine rollout.[193]
In anticipation for moving into Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout in the province, vaccination appointments for older citizens in late March 2021 were hard to fill,[194] partly due to both vaccine hesitancy[195] and the online spread of misinformation by older populations.[196] This misinformation was exacerbated by NACI's opinion reversal on the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and its potential side-effects of blood clots in post-vaccination embolic and thrombotic events.[197] Due to recommendations from NACI, on March 29, 2021, Ontario later restricted use of AstraZeneca to those adults aged 55+.[198]
Transition to Phase 2
Following the departure of General Rick Hillier as the chair of the vaccine task-force on March 31, 2021, he was replaced by Doctor Homer Tien (head of Ornge and a trauma surgeon).[199]
With a steady influx of vaccine shipments, the province began to open up eligibility, especially in the GTA.[200] Ontario officially moved to Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout strategy on April 6, 2021. The first of these province-wide announcements included vaccinating adults with high-risk health conditions.[201]
Following a sharp rise in new cases, exacerbated by COVID-19 variants, the province shifted focus to hot spot regions, particularly focused in Peel Region and Toronto, opening up eligibility to all adults aged 18 and older in certain postal codes.[202][203]
In April, the Ford government was criticized by the opposition for leaving out much higher risk neighbourhoods through the choice of 114 postal codes for prioritization of vaccination for those 18 years of age and older. The government responded saying it was an unnecessary politicization of the issue and that the postal codes were chosen from a study done by the Ontario Science Advisory Table.[204] The Advisory Table responded by saying they had chosen the postal codes to study, but did not recommend to the Progressive Conservative government that they prioritize those postal codes. Instead, they had recommended targeting age groups in specific hot spot neighbourhoods, using the postal codes as a metric to measure COVID-19 statistics.[205]
Lowering of age limits and vaccine ramp-up
Following the lowering of the age of 55 to 40 on April 20, 2021, for access to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Ontario began to achieve vaccination number milestones. On April 21, 2021, Ontario recorded 136,695 doses administered the previous day.[206] The shots were not being taken by the older population due to a combination of vaccine hesitancy and a preference for the two mRNA vaccine brands, which has been called "vaccine shopping".[207] Vaccine Hunters Canada has been credited with the rapid uptake of the vaccine in Ontario among members of Generation X.[208]
On April 22, 2021, pregnant women were added to Phase 2's "highest risk" category for vaccine eligibility in Ontario after advocacy from Ontario OBGYN's and other medical professionals.[209]
The Ontario government announced in late April new accelerated changes to the vaccine rollout due to increased supply. Ontario now plans to open first dose vaccine appointments to all Ontario adults aged 18 and older province-wide starting May 18 one week ahead of the original target for the week of May 25.[210][211][212]
On May 5, 2021, Health Canada announced the approval of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in individuals ages 12 and older, previously they were only authorized for individuals ages 16 and older.[213] In response to this, Ontario began offering the vaccine to this younger age group in several Ontario hot-spots such as Toronto as of May 18 along with the entirety of Peel Region, including Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon as of May 20 and plans to open up vaccine appointments for those aged 12 and older province-wide effective May 23.[214][215][216][217]
Passing 50% vaccination rate and second dose strategy
In May 2021, 50% of Ontarians had received their first dose of a vaccine.[218]
On May 28, 2021, the government released their plans for shortened intervals for second doses, beginning with those 80 and older, moving to those between the ages of 70-79 and moving on first-dose date-based system using a first in, first out principle.[219] The shortest intervals could be shortened from 16 weeks to 28 days.[219]
On June 7, 2021, Ontarians aged 70 and older and those who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine became eligible to book a second dose.[220]
Second dose strategy and continuation of efforts
By July 2021, most Ontarians are able to return to a manufacturer-recommended dose interval (21 days between shots of Pfizer-BioNTech, 28 days between shots of Moderna).[221]
Following a slow down of Pfizer-BioNtech deliveries in late June,[222] mixing of the two mRNA vaccines had become commonplace depending on supply, and receiving an mRNA vaccine if one had received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has their first had become common place, with an interval being reduced from 12 weeks between shots to 8.[223] Some vaccine hesitancy occurred about the mixing of vaccine brands.
Vaccine progress
Total number of people receiving vaccinations in Ontario as of August 20, 2021
| Ontario vaccination rollout | # | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Doses allocated to Ontario by the Canadian government | 26,173,971 | [224][16] |
| Doses administered in Ontario | 20,386,811 | [225] |
| Ontarians fully vaccinated (administered two doses) | 9,700,285 | [225] |
| Ontarians that have received at least one dose | 10,686,526 | [225] |
| Percentage of the provincial population who have received at least one dose | 72.26% | [225] |
Data as of August 20, 2021
Phases for vaccine rollout
| Phase | Projected dates | Details | Second doses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 14, 2020 – April 6, 2021[201] | Phase 1
The following people were prioritized in this phase:
|
Before a slowdown in supply and the adoption of a 16-week interval, the following priority populations received second doses approximately on the same interval as manufacturer recommendations:[226]
|
| 2 | April 6, 2021[201] – June 2021 | Phase 2
According to a new accelerated timeline introduced on April 29, the following Ontarians will be prioritized for first-dose vaccination in this order:[210]
April 27:
April 29:
April 30:
May 3:
May 6:
May 11:[229]
May 13:
May 18:
May 23: |
In the beginning of Phase 2, the following highest-risk health conditions were allowed to receive a shortened-interval second dose:[232]
On May 10, 2021, certain High-Risk Healthcare workers were allowed to receive a second-dose at a shortened-interval[233] According to a shortened interval second-dose strategy announced May 28, 2021[234] for those who received the two approved mRNA vaccines (originally scheduled for 16 weeks), the government announced the following second-dose prioritization in this order:[235] May 31:
June 14:[238]
June 21:
June 23:
June 26:
June 28:
People who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can book a second shot of either Oxford-AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine at an interval of 8 weeks. |
| 3 | July 2021[201] | Phase 3
All remaining eligible Ontarians |
Taskforce members
- Dr. Homer Tien, trauma surgeon and President and CEO, Ornge (chair)[239]
- Mario Di Tommaso, Deputy Solicitor General, Community Safety, Commissioner of Emergency Management (vice-chair)
- Helen Angus, Deputy Minister of Health (vice-chair)
- Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation
- Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases consultant and internist, Toronto General Hospital
- Dr. Dirk Huyer, Ontario's Chief Coroner
- Angela Mondou, President and CEO, Technation
- Mark Saunders, former Toronto Police Chief
- Dr. Maxwell Smith, bioethicist and assistant professor, University of Western Ontario
- Dr. Regis Vaillancourt, Director of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Former
- Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar, resigned due to her travel outside of the country in December 2020[240]
- General (retired) Rick Hillier, former Chief of Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces (chair), stepped away from role following the end of his contract on March 31, 2021[241]
- Dr. Kieran Moore, Former Medical Officer of Health, Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health (now Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario)
Hospitals
Throughout the pandemic, a concern about hospital capacity, and critical care like intensive care unit beds has become a major issue at the peak of the three waves. During the third wave, ICU capacity has reached near critical capacity.[242]
| COVID-19 in Ontario Hospitalizations | # | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Number of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 | 197 | [243] |
| Total patients in ICU due to COVID-19 | 135 | [243] |
| Total patients in ICU on a ventilator due to COVID-19 | 77 | [243] |
| Number of ICU beds with ventilators or ECMO in Ontario | 1,658 | [244] |
| Percentage of provincial ICU beds with ventilators or ECMO capability occupied by COVID-19 patients | 8.14% | [243][244] |
Data as of August 19, 2021
Long-term care homes
On April 15, 2020, the Ontario Nurses' Association released a statement saying that long-term care (LTC) homes pre-COVID-19 were already understaffed, but now they are in "crisis" mode. Prior to the pandemic, long-term care home staff who were part-time or casual staff were allowed to work at multiple locations, increasing the risk of transmission and spread between LTC homes.[245] The province issued a new Emergency Order on March 28 that introduced temporary additional staff members to help in the facilities and allowed homes more flexibility in staff deployment.[246] Many LTC homes in Ontario are considered old and small and feature shared bedrooms, increasing the difficulty in isolating sick residents from those who are well.[247]
Inspections
On April 15, CBC reported that the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care had conducted resident quality inspections (RQI) at only nine out of 626 long-term care homes in the province in 2019,[248] down from a bare majority in 2018 and larger proportions from 2015 to 2017.[248] RQIs are proactive, unannounced and more comprehensive than the other main category of care home inspections in the province, complaint and critical incident inspections, where facilities know of the impending scrutiny in advance;[248] the 2018 Long Term Care Homes Public Inquiry noted that "focusing only on specific complaints or critical incidents could lead to missing systemic issues."[248] As of 15 April 2020, 114 care facilities in Ontario had experienced COVID-19 outbreaks, and those that had multiple COVID-19 deaths last had their RQI in 2018 or earlier.[248]
Outbreaks
On April 7, Ontario reported that there are 51 long-term care homes in the province that are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, and by April 10, it had surged to 69 LTC homes in Ontario.[246][247] Some LTC workers pointed to a lack of personal protective equipment as a cause of the outbreaks.[246] By April 21, 121 outbreaks have been reported in long-term care homes.[249]
On April 8, the Ontario Ministry of Health released directives to ramp up coronavirus testing and infection control. Also, new residents entering a home must be isolated for 14 days and tested within that period. The directives also require that all long-term care home staff and essential visitors for gravely ill residents wear surgical masks, "whether the home is in outbreak or not." LTC homes are expected to take "all reasonable steps" to follow the new long-term care rules. Prior to this directive, LTC staff were not required to wear masks or other PPE, and testing levels were considered low for at-risk seniors and LTC staff.[247][250]
On April 28, Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam stated that as many of 79 percent of Canada's COVID-19 fatalities occurred in long-term care homes, with Ontario and Quebec accounting for most of the cases.[251]
As part of Operation Laser, assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces at five Toronto-area nursing homes, beginning in April, led to a report by the Brigadier General in charge documenting extreme conditions and abuse.[252] The Ontario Ombudsman announced the launch an investigation into long-term care facilities on June 1.[253]
During the second wave of the pandemic, LTC homes began to experience outbreaks again. Tendercare Living Centre in Scarborough for example has experienced 43 deaths related to COVID-19. On December 25, 2020, North York General Hospital took over control of the home.[254]
| COVID-19 in Ontario Long Term Care Homes | # | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| LTC homes currently with an outbreak | 4 | [243] |
| LTC homes with resolved outbreaks | 520 | [243] |
| Active cases of COVID-19 amongst LTR residents | 3 | [243] |
| Active cases of COVID-19 amongst LTR staff | 10 | [243] |
| LTC home resident deaths | 3,975 | [243] |
| LTC home staff deaths | 13 | [243] |
| Percentage of overall provincial deaths in LTC homes | 42.63% | [243] |
Data as of August 19, 2021
Variants of concern
The Ontario government has become aware of a number of variants of SARS-CoV-2 arriving in Canada due to travel. Many of which have been linked to a higher transmission rate, and potentially increased fatality rates.[255]
The first confirmed case of the Alpha variant was on December 21, 2020, infecting a Durham region couple initially with no known travel-related contact exposure.[256] The couple, Dr. Martina Weir and Brian Weir, who both work in healthcare, were later charged for lying to contact tracers, admitting later they had met with a traveller from the U.K., who should have been in quarantine.[257] Dr. Weir was later fired from her role.[258] The variant was later identified in a mass outbreak causing 71 deaths at a long-term care home in Barrie.[259][260]
The first confirmed case of the Beta variant was on February 1, 2021. The case had no known link to travel.[261]
The first confirmed case of the Gamma variant was announced February 7, 2021 in Toronto. The patient, who was later hospitalized, had recently returned from travel in Brazil.[262]
On April 23, 2021, Public Health Ontario announced that there were 36 cases of b.1.617 in Ontario.[263] By June, the government announced that it was speeding up vaccine doses for people living in Delta hot spots such as Toronto and Peel.[264]
A study in Ontario found that the Pfizer vaccine was 95% effective to prevent hospitalization or death from the Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants 7 days after the second dose.[265] Moderna was 94% effective against Alpha 7 days after the 2nd dose. Moderna appeared to be highly effective against Delta.
A preprint study from epidemiologists David Fisman and Ashleigh Tuite, at the University of Toronto, found that the Delta variant of SARS-COV-2 had a 120% greater risk of hospitalization, 287% greater risk of ICU admission, and 137% greater risk of death compared to variants which are not of concern.[266]
Confirmed cases
| Confirmed Variant of Concern Cases in Ontario | # | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 146,329 | [243] |
| Beta | 1,500 | [243] |
| Gamma | 5,222 | [243] |
| Delta | 9,699 | [243] |
Data as of August 29, 2021
Statistics
New cases (2020)
New cases (2021)
Confirmed deaths (2020)
Confirmed deaths (2021)
Active cases (2020)
Active cases (2021)
Geographical distribution
| Public Health Unit | Cases | Cases per m | Resolved | Deaths | Deaths per m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algoma | 426 | 3,767 | 405 | 6 | 53 |
| Brant County (including Brantford) | 4,065 | 30,154 | 3,954 | 25 | 185 |
| Chatham-Kent | 2,007 | 19,668 | 1,935 | 24 | 235 |
| Durham Region | 26,027 | 40,298 | 25,440 | 375 | 581 |
| Eastern Ontario (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry-Prescott and Russell) | 4,722 | 23,288 | 4,554 | 121 | 597 |
| Grey-Bruce | 2,182 | 13,471 | 2,135 | 26 | 161 |
| Haldimand-Norfolk | 2,780 | 25,322 | 2,692 | 55 | 501 |
| Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District | 2,327 | 12,994 | 2,243 | 64 | 357 |
| Halton Region | 18,035 | 32,884 | 17,608 | 235 | 428 |
| Hamilton | 22,852 | 42,562 | 21911 | 405 | 754 |
| Hastings Prince Edward | 1,255 | 7,786 | 1,209 | 12 | 74 |
| Huron-Perth | 2,046 | 15,034 | 1,970 | 57 | 419 |
| Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington | 1,604 | 8,295 | 1,590 | 6 | 31 |
| Lambton County | 3,683 | 29,083 | 3,596 | 69 | 545 |
| Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District | 1,793 | 10,594 | 1,793 | 60 | 355 |
| Middlesex-London | 13,289 | 29,173 | 12,795 | 233 | 511 |
| Niagara Region | 16,627 | 37,123 | 16,081 | 425 | 949 |
| North Bay-Parry Sound (including most of Nipissing District) | 667 | 5,387 | 651 | 8 | 65 |
| Northwestern (Most of Kenora District, Rainy River District and part of Thunder Bay District) | 1,120 | 14,649 | 1,108 | 7 | 92 |
| Ottawa | 28,249 | 30,237 | 27,451 | 593 | 635 |
| Peel | 111,698 | 80,839 | 110,094 | 923 | 668 |
| Peterborough (City and County) | 1,675 | 12,117 | 1,633 | 22 | 159 |
| Porcupine (Cochrane District, Hornepayne, James Bay communities, Timiskaming panhandle) | 2,165 | 25,712 | 2,124 | 31 | 368 |
| Renfrew County & District | 768 | 7,414 | 756 | 10 | 97 |
| Simcoe-Muskoka | 12,866 | 23,815 | 12,431 | 255 | 472 |
| Southwestern (Oxford, Elgin, St. Thomas) | 4,073 | 20,381 | 3,950 | 84 | 420 |
| Sudbury & Districts (including Greater Sudbury) | 2,252 | 11,464 | 2,175 | 31 | 158 |
| Thunder Bay District (including First Nations communities in the far north) | 3,360 | 22,122 | 3,288 | 64 | 421 |
| Timiskaming (including Temagami) | 209 | 6,324 | 206 | 3 | 91 |
| Toronto | 169,032 | 61,881 | 163,951 | 3,586 | 1,313 |
| Waterloo Region[267] | 18,875 | 35,270 | 18,443 | 289 | 540 |
| Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph | 8,534 | 30,001 | 8,310 | 126 | 443 |
| Windsor-Essex County | 17,968 | 45,038 | 17,043 | 441 | 1,105 |
| York Region[268] | 54,360 | 48,977 | 52,943 | 825 | 743 |
Updated as of August 28, 2021.[269]
Demographic distribution
| Age range | Cases | Cases per m | Resolved | Male | Female | Gender diverse | Unspecified sex | Deaths | Deaths per m | Lethality (‰) |
Male deaths | Female deaths | Male deaths per m | Female deaths per m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 and under | 89,882 | 28,625 | 45,099 | 46,141 | 43,083 | 6 | 652 | 5 | 1.6 | 0.004 | 2 | 3 | 1.2 | 2.0 |
| 20-29 | 117,274 | 56,382 | 67,634 | 61,482 | 54,723 | 8 | 1061 | 27 | 13 | 0.02 | 19 | 7 | 18 | 7 |
| 30-39 | 90,306 | 45,725 | 51,400 | 45,593 | 44,064 | 7 | 642 | 62 | 31 | 0.04 | 42 | 16 | 43 | 14 |
| 40-49 | 79,292 | 42,861 | 45,945 | 37,939 | 40,904 | 6 | 443 | 148 | 80 | 0.14 | 97 | 49 | 108 | 52 |
| 50-59 | 78,134 | 37,929 | 47,202 | 38,287 | 39,472 | 4 | 371 | 468 | 227 | 0.49 | 305 | 160 | 299 | 155 |
| 60-69 | 48,887 | 28,757 | 29,543 | 25,321 | 23,344 | 2 | 220 | 1,101 | 648 | 4.45 | 726 | 367 | 875 | 412 |
| 70-79 | 24,324 | 22,316 | 14,642 | 12,090 | 12,141 | 1 | 92 | 1,935 | 1,775 | 8.39 | 1,181 | 748 | 2,316 | 1,290 |
| 80-89 | 16,602 | 32,553 | 10,451 | 6,605 | 9,904 | 0 | 93 | 3,188 | 6,251 | 19.74 | 1,573 | 1,595 | 7,282 | 5,389 |
| 90 and over | 8,651 | 66,546 | 5,426 | 2,380 | 6,223 | 0 | 48 | 2,477 | 19,054 | 28.97 | 848 | 1,611 | 21,200 | 17,900 |
| Unknown | 97 | 66 | 32 | 24 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Totals | 553,450 | 37,999 | 317,408 | 269,803 | 268,066 | 34 | 3,651 | 9,412 | 646 | 2.14 | 4,793 | 4,556 | 666 | 618 |
Updated as of August 10, 2021.[270][271]
Testing
Public Health Ontario has six testing laboratories to which samples can be sent. The main laboratory is the top four floors of the MaRS Centre in downtown Toronto.[272] As of early April, accounting firm KPMG has been contracted to organize all the labs in the province that are capable of microbial testing.[273] In addition to the six public health labs, this includes 10 hospital networks and three private lab networks, including Dynacare and .[274][275]
Access
Access to testing is set by Public Health Ontario who publishes a guidance document that defines the conditions for an individual to be tested.[276] Conditions have included close contact with a test-confirmed case, recent travel, admission to hospital for serious symptoms, healthcare worker, longterm care home resident, etc. The set of conditions has been updated repeatedly from January to April 2020, at times reducing access and at other times increasing access to testing.[277] Starting in March, the public health units across the province have opened over 70 assessment centres, which members of the public can visit if directed by a health professional. These range from mobile units, to walk-up locations, to drive-through locations. This diverts potentially infected people from hospitals and doctors' offices. If warranted, the centre will collect a swab from a visitor for testing. Swabs are also collected at hospitals and by public health officials, for example, at long-term care facilities.[278]
Since many cases are not tested, the number of test-confirmed cases, which are the infection numbers reported by the Ontario government, should not be misconstrued as the actual number of infections, which have been estimated to be substantially higher.[279] Unlike some countries, the number of suspected or probable infections is not reported by the Ontario government.[280][281]
In an effort to reduce a burden on provincial assessment centres amid a continued surge in cases, Ford announced on September 23 announced that it would expand testing of asymptomatic people by-appointment into pharmacies across the province, beginning with 60 locations by September 25. He also announced plans to deploy saliva-based rapid testing at three hospitals in Toronto.[282] Accordingly, the province announced on September 24 that it would discourage asymptomatic patients from receiving tests at assessment centres.[283]
Amount of testing
In late March and April, Ontario was performing the lowest number of tests per capita of all the provinces.[284][285] As of early May 2020, among the larger provinces, Ontario is second to Alberta and ahead of British Columbia and Quebec in daily tests per capita.[286]
In mid-April, polling firms Forum Research and Mainstreet Research released results of a pair of surveys about COVID-19 symptom prevalence and testing.[287][288] Four to five thousand Ontario households were randomly selected. Of them, 2% of households contained someone who had been tested by April 12, increasing to 5% on April 19, whereas the incidence of COVID-19 symptoms in a household decreased from one in five to one in seven households. The second survey indicated that one-third of Ontarians report an underlying condition that might aggravate a COVID-19 infection.
Testing capacity
Since January 2020, Ontario has been increasing its capacity to perform testing based on RT-PCR. Various factors have impeded this increase, including shortages of reagent chemicals for the RT-PCR machines and shortages of validated swabs. To tackle these challenges, labs have adapted. In particular, RT-PCR machines from multiple manufactures have been obtained, each of which takes different sets of chemicals. New suppliers of swabs have been found but each must be tested and validated to perform properly. Returning tests results to individuals is automated with an online portal.[289]
Testing capacity projections
| Date of Projection | Stated Current Capacity/Day | Projection of Testing Capacity/Day |
|---|---|---|
| March 13, 2020 | 2,500 | 5,000 by unspecified date[290] |
| March 26, 2020 | 2,500 | Each week, an increase by 3 to 4,000 tests per day and 19,000 by April 17[291] |
| April 9, 2020 | 13,000 | 19,000 by April 29, 2020[292][293] |
| April 10, 2020 | 14,000 | 8,000 by April 15, 2020, 14,000 by April 29, and 16,000 by May 6, 2020[294][295] |
| May 12, 2020 | unstated | 20,000 by unstated date[296] |
| May 29, 2020 | 18,525 | 16,000[297] |
| May 29, 2020 | 18,525 | 20,900 by unstated date[297] |
| October 2020 | 35,000 – 40,000 | 50,000 by unstated date[298] |
| December 10, 2020 | 62,000 (record number of tests completed by the Province)[299] | 90,000 by unstated date[298] |
Backlogs
On March 18, 2020, the Toronto Star reported that test results announced by the provincial government were several days old, with turnaround times increasing from 24 hours to 4 days, leading the government to "making decisions based on old information".[300] The province was only able to process around 2,000 tests per day by March 19, which caused the backlog.[301] The backlog increased to over 8,000 unprocessed samples on March 24 with patients waiting at least four days for results, partially due to fact that private and university laboratories are not allowed to process samples.[302][303]
More backlogs emerged in September and October 2020 amid increased demand for tests and a heightened caseload, reaching 68,000 by the weekend of October 4.[282] On October 5, CBC News reported that COVID-19 tests administered at pharmacies were being sent to Quest Diagnostics laboratories in California for processing by means of the local partner for the scheme, In-Common Laboratories (ICL).[304]
Management of testing in Ontario
Officials for Public Health Ontario include the following individuals:
- Dr. Vanessa Allen, chief of medical microbiology with Public Health Ontario[272]
- Dr. Peter Donnelly, president and CEO of Public Health Ontario (on leave as of April 9, 2020)[305][306]
- Colleen Geiger, interim president and CEO of Public Health Ontario (as of April 9, 2020)[305][306]
- Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer[307]
- Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health[307]
In early April, the Ministry of Health brought in a multinational accounting firm KPMG to assist in the organization and optimization of testing capacity in Ontario.[273] Premier Doug Ford said on April 8 that he was losing his patience with Ontario's inadequate testing numbers, showing testing capacity was not being fully utilized.[308] Later that day, the province appointed a former Toronto public health head, Dr. David McKeown to troubleshoot and rethink the province's response to the pandemic. The following day on April 9, amid mounting criticism of the province's testing, the president and CEO of Public Health Ontario Dr. Peter Donnelly temporarily stepped down for medical reasons and was replaced in the interim by Colleen Geiger, Public Health Ontario's chief of strategy, stakeholder relations, information and knowledge.[305][306][309]
Criticism
Initial response
Regional public health experts suggested that Ontario's initial incremental response — adding new voluntary measures piece by piece — had been ineffective. Businesses of all sizes remained open, and unnecessary social contacts continued. Describing Ontario's efforts to battle COVID-19 as piecemeal and ineffective, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, who was one of Ontario's 34 regional medical officers of health, urged his colleagues to band together and use more powerful measures to contain the pandemic than provincial leaders had endorsed by the third week of March 2020. In an email, Dr. Nesathurai, who worked for Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit, wrote on March 19, 2020, that Ontario's response had undermined the province's attempt to contain the outbreak, as businesses remain open and travellers ignore advice to self-isolate.[310]
Protests
On April 25, 2020, there were small protests totalling 200 protesters in front of the Ontario Legislative Building in Queen's Park, Toronto, demanding that Doug Ford end all emergency measures. Some of the protesters consider the coronavirus a hoax. Ford called them "a bunch of yahoos."[311]
On May 2, 2020, there was another protest with 100 protesters in front of the Ontario Legislative Building.[312]
On January 15, 2021, Roman Baber, Member of Provincial Parliament for the Toronto riding of York Centre, was removed from the caucus of the governing Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario after publishing an open letter to Premier Doug Ford criticizing Ontario's lockdown restrictions. Baber continued his anti-lockdown advocacy as an independent member of the legislative opposition.[313][314][315] On 23 January 2021, an anti-lockdown rally took place at Yonge-Dundas Square which resulted in arrests and charges being laid by Toronto police.[316]
Since early March 2021, there have been protests held in Barrie, Ontario at Meridian Place, with one protest on April 10 drawing a crowd of 300 people.[317] The person who led the protests was fined $800 by the Barrie Police Service.[317] On 17 April, People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier attended the protests and gave a speech in front of a crowd of hundreds of protesters.[318]
On the afternoon of April 17, 2021, approximately 300 anti-lockdown protestors gathered in the area of Main Street East and Kenilworth Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario.[319] Police were present for public safety and enforcement.[319]
Paid sick leave
The Progressive Conservative government has largely resisted calls to implement paid emergency leave for workers that fall ill due to COVID-19, and blocked legislation proposed by the opposition Ontario NDP. Premier Ford stated that affected workers should use the federal Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), which is retroactive and delayed, and argued that NDP leader Andrea Horwath wanted to "double dip into people's pockets when there's a program working and working well now".[144][145][320]
See also
- COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Regional Municipality of Peel
- COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
References
- ^ "COVID-19: A Canadian timeline | Canadian Healthcare Network". Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19 daily epidemiology update". Public Health Agency of Canada. April 19, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario government declares state of emergency amid coronavirus pandemic". Global News. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "COVID-19 Modelling, April 3, 2020" (PDF). files.ontario.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario doesn't have a one-stop shop for information about COVID-19 deaths in long-term-care homes and hospitals. The Toronto Star built its own". thestar.com. April 23, 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ DeClerq, Katherine (May 26, 2020). "'Gut-wrenching' military report sheds light on grim conditions in Ontario nursing homes". Toronto. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Bill 195: Ontario ends declared emergency, continues some emergency orders". Gowlingwlg.com. Gowling WLG International Limited. July 28, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ "Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools in Canada in 2018/19, by provinceada: elementary/secondary school enrollment, by province 2019". Statista.
- ^ "Tam urges caution as daily cases of COVID-19 rise 25 per cent in last week". CTV News. September 7, 2020. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario rejected its own public health agency's advice when it launched its colour-coded plan for COVID-19 restrictions". thestar.com. November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Hamilton, Halton and York entering red level as Ontario lowers COVID-19 restrictions threshold". Global News.
- ^ "Ontario-wide lockdown to begin on Boxing Day, list of essential retailers narrowed". CP24. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Coronavirus: Ontario declares 2nd state of emergency, issues stay-at-home order". Global News.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Opposition slams Ford for sending 'dangerous message' by ending state of emergency". Toronto. February 9, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario releases three-phase COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan with inoculations to begin on Tuesday". CP24. December 11, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "COVID-19 Tracker Canada - Vaccination Tracker". covid19tracker.ca.
- ^ "Explained: What the Pfizer shortage means for Canada's vaccine rollout". Coronavirus. January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Vaccine 'ramp-up phase': 1.3M Moderna doses in March; more than 10M Pfizer by June". Coronavirus. February 25, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/astrazeneca-approved-1.5929050
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/johnson-johnson-covid19-vaccine-approved-1.5937900
- ^ Jump up to: a b Limited, Loblaw Companies. "Shoppers Drug Mart marks historic COVID-19 milestone with first vaccine in pharmacy in Ontario". www.newswire.ca.
- ^ "'We are in the third wave it is just a matter of what kind of wave it is,' Ontario's top public health official says". CP24. March 18, 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (March 15, 2021). "Ontario now in third wave of COVID-19, province's hospital association says". Toronto.
- ^ "Strict three-week lockdown needed to stop explosive COVID-19 variant growth, Ontario science table says". Toronto. March 17, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario reports more than 2300 new COVID-19 cases as ICU numbers reach record high". Toronto. March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario to enter four-week, provincewide COVID-19 shutdown on Saturday". Toronto. April 1, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario introduces another stay-at-home order, declares third state of emergency". Toronto. April 7, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davidson, Sean (April 12, 2021). "Ontario schools closing to in-person learning indefinitely as COVID-19 cases soar". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario reports record-breaking 4,736 new COVID-19 cases as total count surpasses 400,000". Global News. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19: Latest developments in the Greater Toronto Area on April 16". Global News. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Davidson, Sean (April 16, 2021). "Ontario extends stay-at-home order, restricts interprovincial travel as province loses battle against COVID-19". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ontario gives police authority to stop people, vehicles, ask purpose of travel". CTV News Toronto. April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000244/ontario-maintains-covid-19-restrictions-as-stay-at-home-order-is-set-to-expire
- ^ "Ontario to Move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11". Government of Ontario. June 7, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Moving to Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen on June 30". Government of Ontario. June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Moving to Step Three of Roadmap to Reopen on July 16". Government of Ontario. July 9, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Here's how Ontario plans to reopen over the summer months". May 20, 2021.
- ^ "OLG shuts down casinos due to COVID-19 concerns". CP24. Bell Media. March 15, 2020. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ Rodrigues, Gabby (March 17, 2020). "Ontario government declares state of emergency amid coronavirus pandemic". Global News. Corus Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario waives three-month OHIP waiting period". CP24. March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (March 20, 2020). "Ontario launches online learning for students at home during COVID-19 pandemic". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario Takes Extraordinary Steps to Ensure Health Care Resources are Available to Contain COVID-19". news.ontario.ca. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19: Ontario and Quebec order non-essential businesses closed after spike in coronavirus totals". March 23, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Ford says list of essential businesses amid COVID-19 pandemic is 'adjustable'". CTV News Toronto. March 24, 2020. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario government releases list of essential workplaces that can remain open". CBC News. March 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario orders all non-essential businesses to shut down". CTV News Toronto. March 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario issuing emergency alert on COVID-19 to phones, radios and TVs". CBC News. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Ontario government orders shutdown of all outdoor recreation amenities". Global News. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ DeClerq, Katherine (April 3, 2020). "More Ontario businesses, some construction sites will close amid COVID-19 pandemic". Toronto. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Goodfield, Kayla (April 3, 2020). "Cannabis stores in Ontario no longer deemed essential, will close this weekend". Toronto. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Ontario orders further workplace closures, halt to many construction projects". Global News. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Codi (May 27, 2020). "Ontario extends all emergency orders until June 9". cp24.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Goodfield, Kayla (April 27, 2020). "Ontario unveils steps to reopen. Here's what the 'new normal' will look like". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Windsor-Essex joins rest of Ontario in Stage 3 of reopening plan". CityNews Toronto. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (June 12, 2020). "Ontario allows expanded social bubbles. Here's how to create your circle". Toronto. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario slashes gathering limits in three COVID-19 hotspots. Here are the new rules". CTV News Toronto. September 17, 2020. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "'Alarming' rise in COVID-19 cases in Ontario prompts premier to restrict private gatherings provincewide". CP24. September 19, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ Herhalt, Chris (September 25, 2020). "Ontario orders all strip clubs to shut down, imposes new alcohol rules for bars and restaurants". cp24.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Freeman, Joshua (October 2, 2020). "Ontario imposing new masking policy for all indoor spaces, new regional restrictions amid 2nd wave of COVID-19". cp24. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (October 9, 2020). "Ontario warns people to stay home, reverts COVID-19 hotspots to modified Stage 2". CTV News Toronto. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
- ^ "Full list of businesses, services impacted by Ontario's new COVID-19 restrictions". Toronto. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario moves York Region to modified Stage 2 amid concerns over rising COVID-19 cases". CTV News Toronto. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario's top doctor 'did not lead' province's COVID-19 response, auditor finds". Toronto. November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "Delays, conflicts and confusion hampered Ontario's COVID-19 response: auditor general". CBC News. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario to shut down publicly funded schools for 2 weeks after March Break over COVID-19 concerns". Archived from the original on March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario schools will not reopen April 6, premier says". CTV News Toronto. March 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario unveils details of learn-at-home program, students out of school until at least May 4". cbc.ca. March 31, 2020. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario public schools will not reopen on May 4, premier says". CTV News Toronto. April 14, 2020. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario publicly-funded schools to remain closed until at least May 31". CTV News Toronto. April 26, 2020. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario shuts schools until September because of COVID-19 pandemic". CBC News. May 19, 2020. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "Ministry proposes three options for returning to school in September". July 10, 2020. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Elementary students will be in class full-time come September, Ontario says". CBC News. July 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Appia, Veronica (July 31, 2020). "#UnsafeSeptember: Ontario parents fear province's school reopening plan". Toronto.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Média, Bell. "EXCLUSIVE: Poll shows most Ontario parents stand with teachers in return to school". www.iheartradio.ca. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Poll finds majority of parents prefer two-month staggered start to school year - CityNews Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Trudeau unsure if he will send his children back to school and poll suggests he's not the only one". National Post. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario reveals COVID-19 school outbreak plan, including rules for student dismissals and closures". CBC News. August 26, 2020. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ "TDSB approves a back to school plan; looks at delaying start of classes to September 15th". Newstalk 1010. Bell Media Radio. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "Toronto District School Board Will Send Students Back To Class Starting Sept. 15". www.narcity.com. August 20, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "First day back to school for thousands of Ontario students, others wait - 680 NEWS". www.680news.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Group of Mississauga high school staff briefly walk off job; demand better masks". CP24. September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario launches website to let parents track number of COVID-19 cases in schools". National Post. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario reports 11 additional COVID-19 cases in schools but only one has closed". thestar.com. September 18, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "COVID-19 public health measures and advice". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
- ^ "BREAKING: Ontario to go into province-wide lockdown this week, schools to close temporarily". www.insauga.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Davidson, Sean (January 7, 2021). "Students in southern Ontario will not return to class for in-person learning until Jan. 25". Toronto. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Return to in-class learning delayed for most Southern Ont. regions, Grey-Bruce exempted". CTV News London. January 20, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Toronto, Windsor, Hamilton, Peel and York region schools to remain closed until Feb. 10". Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Schools in Toronto, York and Peel will stay closed until Feb. 16, remaining regions return to class Monday". Toronto. February 3, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario government to push back March Break to April 12, Lecce says". CP24. February 11, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davidson, Sean (April 5, 2021). "Peel schools ordered to close despite Ford government's 'firm belief' they should remain open". Toronto. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19: Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph public health to order temporary closure of schools". Global News. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Toronto schools ordered to close temporarily due to rising COVID-19 cases". Global News. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario plans for students to resume in-person classes after April break, education minister says". Toronto Star. April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (June 2, 2021). "Ontario schools will remain closed until September as province eyes earlier reopening date". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres". www.ontario.ca. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Ontario outlines what can restart for Stage 1 of reopening province beginning Tuesday". Global News. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario doubling limit on gatherings, more businesses to reopen in next phase of COVID-19 recovery plan". CBC News. June 8, 2020. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (June 8, 2020). "Restaurants, hair salons and malls can reopen in parts of Ontario on Friday, Toronto-area excluded". CTV News Toronto. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario allows almost all regions to reopen restaurants and hair salons – Toronto still excluded". CTV News Toronto. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario to allow Toronto, Peel Region to enter Stage 2 this week". CTV News Toronto. June 22, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ Borrelli, Melanie (June 24, 2020). "Windsor-Essex moving to Stage 2 of reopening, except Leamington and Kingsville". Windsor. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ D'Mello, Colin (July 3, 2020). "Thousands of Ontario businesses on the verge of bankruptcy await Stage 3 of provincial reopening". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario puts 'pause' on further loosening of public health measures as COVID-19 numbers rise". CBC News. September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Ontario reopening Stage 3: Gathering limit increasing as indoor dining, gyms permitted to reopen". Global News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health Measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region". Ontario Newsroom. Queen's Printer for Ontario. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davidson, Sean (December 21, 2020). "Ontario will enter strict lockdown on Dec. 26, nearly all non-essential businesses to close". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ "Ford poised to order strict lockdown for all of Ontario starting on Boxing Day". CBC News. December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "What's open and closed under Ontario's COVID-19 lockdown". CTV News Toronto. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Full list of new COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Ontario". CTV News Toronto. January 12, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Here's what you need to know about Ontario's new COVID-19 restrictions". CBC News. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario addresses confusion about new stay-at-home rules. These are the answers to your top questions". CTV News Toronto. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ Trapunski, Richard (January 18, 2021). "Livestream shows cancelled as Toronto venues forced to close – even virtually". NOW Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Provincewide Shutdown". Ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
A declaration of emergency is in effect. The COVID-19 Response Framework (colour-coded zones) is paused during this time.
- ^ "Police can't randomly stop people under coronavirus stay-at-home order, Ontario government says". Global News. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Big box stores face weekend COVID-19 inspection blitz". Toronto Star. January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (January 17, 2021). "Ontario inspectors find 36 stores violating COVID-19 rules during big-box safety blitz". Toronto.
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom | Salle de presse de l'Ontario". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Davidson, Sean (February 8, 2021). "Ontario extends stay-at-home order for most of province, lays out framework for gradual reopening". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "How COVID-19 restrictions will lift across eastern Ontario". CBC News. February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19 response framework: keeping Ontario safe and open". Ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario extends stay-at-home order in Toronto, Peel, North Bay". torontosun.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (March 5, 2021). "Toronto and Peel Region will enter grey zone of Ontario's reopening framework Monday. Here's what can reopen". Toronto.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Coronavirus: Ontario classifies municipalities in new, more targeted COVID-19 category system". Global News. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davidson, Sean (November 3, 2020). "Ontario unveils new system for COVID-19 shutdowns. Here's how it will work". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19 response framework: keeping Ontario safe and open". www.ontario.ca. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open" (PDF). www.files.ontario.ca.
- ^ "Ontario rejected its own public health agency's advice when it launched its colour-coded plan for COVID-19 restrictions". Toronto Star. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Hamilton, Halton and York entering red level as Ontario lowers COVID-19 restrictions threshold". Global News. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ontario to allow haircuts and outdoor fitness classes to resume in grey zone regions, Hamilton moves to lockdown". CTV News Toronto. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Freeman, Joshua. "Ontario to allow outdoor dining in Toronto and Peel starting Saturday; restaurant capacity increasing in red and orange zones". cp24.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Outdoor fitness, hair salons permitted to reopen in Ontario's lockdown zones despite surging COVID-19 cases". CBC News. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Shuts Down Livestream Concerts in New Wave of Pandemic Restrictions". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ "Concert venues dealt another blow as Ontario COVID-19 rules prohibit live streams". CTV News Toronto. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario to enter four-week, provincewide COVID-19 shutdown on Saturday". CTV News Toronto. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Carter, Adam (April 1, 2021). "Ontario imposes provincewide 'emergency brake' as 3rd wave of COVID-19 hits hard". CBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Implements Provincewide Emergency Brake". news.ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19 public health measures and advice". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Ontario issues stay-at-home order and declares third state of emergency". CTV News Toronto. April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (April 7, 2021). "Ontario's stay-at-home order: Your top questions answered here". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ "Walmart moving to make face masks available for sale across Ontario after some displays taped off". Global News. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Amid pleas for Ontario paid sick day program, Doug Ford tells people to stop 'playing politics'". Global News. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario Liberals call on government to 'overrule the premier' on paid sick leave". CTV News Toronto. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Revised police measures still dangerous to Ontarians of colour, advocates say". CTV News. April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ Moscorp, David (April 18, 2021). "Opinion: Doug Ford must resign". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario doctor encourages people to get outdoors as stay-at-home order begins". CTV News Toronto. April 8, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Golf courses to remain closed as Ontario keeps COVID-19 restrictions on outdoor activities". CP24. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "Premier Ford reverses decision to close Ontario playgrounds amid backlash". CTV News Toronto. April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Peel to require all businesses with 5 or more work-acquired COVID-19 cases to shut down immediately". CP24. April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Peel introduces expedited workplace closures to stop spread of variants and protect workers and our community". Region of Peel. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Toronto, Peel require all businesses with 5 or more work-acquired COVID-19 cases to shut for 10 days". Toronto. April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Premier Doug Ford isolating after staff member tests positive for COVID-19". CBC News. April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ "'We got it wrong': Premier Ford apologizes for some of Ontario's enhanced public health measures". CTV News Toronto. April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Ford gov't budges on paid sick leave, will offer Ontario workers 3 days off as part of temporary program". CP24. April 28, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario extends stay-at-home order for an additional two weeks". CTV News Toronto. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19 public health measures and advice". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
- ^ "Ontario splash pads will be able to reopen in time for long weekend". Toronto. May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario extends some COVID-19 orders past June 2, including ban on recreational camping and provincial border closures". Toronto. May 29, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario will enter first step of reopening plan on Friday, allowing patios to open". CP24. June 7, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ "Here's how Ontario plans to reopen over the summer months". CP24. May 20, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ "Ontario to enter next step in its reopening plan on June 30, personal care services can reopen". CP24. June 24, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario to enter Step 3 of COVID-19 reopening plan on July 16, days earlier than expected | Globalnews.ca". Global News.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario#exit
- ^ https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario#exit
- ^ "Masks will stay on after Step 3 of Ontario's reopening as capacity limits are dropped".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Today's coronavirus news: Canada's first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Toronto, Quebec City; Ontario is reporting 1,940 new cases; Alberta records new one-day high with 1,887 cases". thestar.com. December 14, 2020.
- ^ "UPS Canada releases 'first images' of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine being prepared for delivery". Toronto. December 12, 2020.
- ^ "Canada's 1st COVID-19 vaccinations administered, kicking off massive campaign". Global News.
- ^ "All LTC residents, staff in Toronto, Peel, York and Windsor-Essex set to receive COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 21". CP24. January 5, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario government sets goal to vaccinate all long-term care residents and staff by Feb. 15". January 13, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Health Canada approves 'game-changer' Moderna COVID-19 vaccine". Coronavirus. December 23, 2020.
- ^ Jeffords, Shawn (December 23, 2020). "Ontario to receive 53,000 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses by end of December". CP24.
- ^ "First Moderna vaccine doses arrive in Canada". Coronavirus. December 24, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19: Moderna vaccine approved, Ontario to get 53,000 doses by end of year; province sees 2,408 new cases". ottawacitizen.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "COVID-19 vaccinations cut back over holidays due to staff shortages, Ontario government says". Global News.
- ^ "Critics slam Ontario government over holiday vaccination slowdown". Toronto. December 28, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19 vaccine over holidays on 'amended schedules' as province stops reserving second doses". ottawacitizen.
- ^ Jump up to: a b https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-december-29-vaccine-reopen-1.5856296?cmp=rss
- ^ "Vaccinations have now been conducted at all Toronto long-term care homes". CP24. January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario to start vaccinating residents over 80 by mid-March". February 24, 2021.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/moderna-cut-deliveries-to-canada-1.5893307
- ^ "Canada could be short 500K vaccine doses from Pfizer by end of March: Ont. health minister". CP24. January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Canada to receive over 640,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna this week". Global News.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "COVID-19 vaccine pilot at some Ontario pharmacies to begin next week with Oxford-AstraZeneca". Global News.
- ^ "Ontario to begin AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination appointments at more than 300 pharmacies starting Friday". Toronto. March 9, 2021.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-march-10-2021-astrazeneca-pharmacies-1.5943618
- ^ "Ontario restaurant workers will get COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 2, officials now confirm". Toronto. March 22, 2021.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-vaccine-ontario-booking-appointments-1.5958792
- ^ "Ontario is studying COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy levels as rollout continues: Elliott". Global News.
- ^ "Older Ontarians most involved in spreading COVID-19 misinformation online: study". Toronto. March 31, 2021.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-suspends-astrazeneca-vaccine-covid-19-1.5968657
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-march-29-2021-vaccine-doses-1.5967888
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/dr-homer-tien-ornge-air-ambulance-ceo-operational-lead-covid-19-vaccine-distribution-task-force-1.5975418
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-stay-at-home-vaccines-1.5979428
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Ontario Newsroom | Salle de presse de l'Ontario". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ "Full list of Ontario neighbourhoods where the COVID-19 vaccine will be available to those 18+". CTV News Toronto. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario opens vaccination up to people over 18 in hotspot neighbourhoods in Brampton and Mississauga". www.insauga.com.
- ^ "Ontario's science table says analysis not meant to determine hot spot postal codes in vaccine rollout". CP24. April 15, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19 science advisory table says it did not select hot spot postal codes". Ottawa Citizen. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario hits new daily vaccination record as AstraZeneca goes 'flying off shelves'". Toronto. April 21, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario hits new daily vaccination record of 136K+ as AstraZeneca goes 'flying off shelves' with lower age threshold". CP24. April 21, 2021.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/vaccine-40-plus-ottawa-registration-1.5993751
- ^ "Pregnant women can now book COVID vaccine appointments". BayToday.ca.
- ^ Jump up to: a b https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-vaccine-accelerated-pfizer-may-1.6007553
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to those 18+ a week ahead of schedule". CP24. May 17, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ Aiello, Rachel (May 5, 2021). "Children 12 and older now cleared to receive Pfizer vaccine: Health Canada". CTV News. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19: Pfizer vaccine available to Ontarians aged 12 to 17 beginning May 31". Global News.
- ^ "Where to find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto today". CP24. May 17, 2021.
- ^ [2] 'Welcome news:' Peel Region to open vaccinations to children as young as 12 www.cp24.com, published May 19, 2021
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ "Ontario's daily COVID-19 cases follow downward trend with 2,320 new infections | News". dailyhive.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario shortens gap between COVID-19 vaccine doses with majority of residents fully vaccinated by end of summer". Toronto. May 28, 2021.
- ^ "COVID-19: More Ontarians can book 2nd vaccine shot through provincial system | Globalnews.ca". Global News.
- ^ https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/vaccine/COVID-19_vaccine_series_quick_ref_chart.pdf
- ^ "Some cancelling appointments at mass immunization sites due to Pfizer delay: HKPR Health Unit - Peterborough | Globalnews.ca". Global News.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-covid-19-vaccine-mixing-hesitancy-1.6074279
- ^ Public Health Agency of Canada (December 3, 2020). "Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19: Vaccine rollout". aem. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "COVID-19 vaccines for Ontario". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
- ^ https://files.ontario.ca/moh-vaccine-update-technical-briefing-en-2021-01-25.pdf
- ^ [3] 'We have been on fire:' all adults in Peel Region eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as of tomorrow www.cp24.com, published May 5, 2021
- ^ Jump up to: a b "This is the list of people eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 2". CP24. March 5, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ "Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination plan". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
- ^ "Ontario to expand vaccine eligibility to children as young as 12". CP24. May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Highest-risk individuals with health conditions and an essential caregiver can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment". www.niagararegion.ca.
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ Ontario, Tyler Collins, Province of (May 28, 2021). "Ontario will "speed up" eligibility for 2nd COVID-19 vaccine doses". Oakville News.
- ^ "Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination plan". COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario.
- ^ "Ontario moves up second dose rebooking for those 70+ and anyone who had a shot by Apr.18". CP24. June 4, 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Sean (June 4, 2021). "Here's who can book their second vaccine dose this week". Toronto.
- ^ "Ontario second doses | Delta variant hotspots see accelerated timeline - 680 NEWS". www.680news.com.
- ^ "COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force - Public Appointments Secretariat". www.pas.gov.on.ca.
- ^ "Auto executive off Ontario's vaccine task force following revelation she travelled out of country". CP24. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Retired general Rick Hillier leaving role as head of Ontario vaccine task force, Ford says". Global News.
- ^ "'Surging like absolute crazy': Ontario hospitals 'pray' they don't reach last-resort stage in third wave". nationalpost.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "How Ontario is Responding". Government of Ontario. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b https://criticalcareontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Overview-of-CCIS_r.pdf
- ^ "Coronavirus: Ontario Nurses' Association calls work conditions in care homes 'unfathomable'". Global News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Canada's nursing homes worry coronavirus outbreak will mean residents 'dying alone'". Global News. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ontario has ramped up testing, infection control measures in long-term care homes. Will it be enough?". thestar.com. April 10, 2020. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Only 9 out of 626 Ontario nursing homes received comprehensive 'resident quality inspections' last year | CBC News". CBC News. April 15, 2020. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Status of cases in Ontario". ontario.ca. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ^ "Long-term care home employees in Bradford demand better protection". BarrieToday.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Weeks, Carly (April 28, 2020). "Long-term care home staff, residents struggling with restrictive COVID-19 policies". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on April 30, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ Murray Brewster; Vassy Kapelos (May 26, 2020). "Military alleges horrific conditions, abuse in pandemic-hit Ontario nursing homes". CBC News. Toronto ON. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario ombudsman launches long-term care probe following military report". Ottawa Matters. Ottawa ON: Rogers Digital Media. Canadian Press. June 1, 2020. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ "Two more deaths reported at Scarborough long-term care centre battling COVID-19 outbreak". CP24. December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: UK variant 'may be more deadly'". BBC News. January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Ontario Confirms First Cases of Covid-19 UK variant". CBC. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "Durham couple who contracted UK COVID variant charged after allegedly misleading contact tracers". CP24. January 21, 2021.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/doctor-nursing-homes-covid-contact-tracing-1.5885471
- ^ "63 residents now dead amid COVID-19 outbreak at Barrie, Ont., nursing home". Global News.
- ^ "Deadly COVID outbreak declared over at Roberta Place". OrilliaMatters.com.
- ^ "Ontario confirms 1st case of South African coronavirus variant, no known link to travel". Global News.
- ^ "Ontario records first case of Brazil COVID-19 variant". torontosun.
- ^ "COVID-19: Public Health Ontario confirms 36 cases of B.1.617 variant now in province | Globalnews.ca". Global News.
- ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca.
- ^ Nasreen, Sharifa; He, Siyi; Chung, Hannah; Brown, Kevin A.; Gubbay, Jonathan B.; Buchan, Sarah A.; Wilson, Sarah E.; Sundaram, Maria E.; Fell, Deshayne B.; Chen, Branson; Calzavara, Andrew; Austin, Peter C.; Schwartz, Kevin L.; Tadrous, Mina; Wilson, Kumanan; Kwong, Jeffrey C.; Investigators, on behalf of the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) Provincial Collaborative Network (PCN) (July 3, 2021). "Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against variants of concern, Canada". medRxiv: 2021.06.28.21259420. doi:10.1101/2021.06.28.21259420. S2CID 235722149 – via www.medrxiv.org.
- ^ Fisman, David; Tuite, Ashleigh (July 12, 2021). "Progressive Increase in Virulence of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Ontario, Canada". medrxiv. doi:10.1101/2021.07.05.21260050. S2CID 235756602. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "Waterloo Region COVID-19 summary - Region of Waterloo". Regionofwaterloo.ca. December 15, 2020. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19 in York Region". York.ca. December 15, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ "All Ontario: Case numbers and spread". Government of Ontario. August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
- ^ "Confirmed positive cases of COVID19 in Ontario". Ontario Govt. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ Statistics Canada. "Population estimates on July 1st, by age and sex". Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "A virtual tour of a Public Health Ontario lab ramping up its COVID-19 testing". Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "How Ontario turned the tide on a huge backlog of COVID-19 tests". April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "How Ontario turned the tide on a huge backlog of COVID-19 tests". thestar.com. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario Public Health 2019 COVID testing guidance" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ Chung, Emily (April 4, 2020). "Why COVID-19 testing varies so much across Canada". Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario to test every long-term care resident, staff member for COVID-19". ottawacitizen.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ "STAY HOME: COVID-19 spreading in community, 100s could be infected, says Ottawa's medical officer of health". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "Canada may have 100,000 more COVID-19 cases than the numbers show - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. April 6, 2020. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ "RESOURCES: List of Ontario COVID-19 Assessment Centres & Their Individual Criteria - Ontario Health Coalition". Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Fox, Chris (September 23, 2020). "Up to 60 Ontario pharmacies to begin offering COVID-19 tests by end of week: Ford". CP24. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Herhalt, Chris (September 24, 2020). "Ontario now discouraging asymptomatic COVID-19 testing at assessment centres". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Crawley, Mike. "Wait list for COVID-19 test results balloons to 11,000 in Ontario". CBC. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ Chung, Emily. "Why COVID-19 testing varies so much across Canada". CBC. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario couldn't ramp up its testing quickly enough during the deadly outbreak of COVID-19. Here's what went wrong". thestar.com. May 2, 2020. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19 Symptom Study - Ontario". Archived from the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "COVID-19 Symptom Study Wave 2 - Ontario". Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Ontario announces online portal to check COVID-19 test results". Global News. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Wallace, Kenyon; Kennedy, Brendan (March 13, 2020). "Are we testing enough for COVID-19? For now, yes, experts say". Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ Crawley, Mike (March 26, 2020). "Wait list for COVID-19 test results balloons to 11,000 in Ontario". Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Stone, Laura; Weeks, Carla (April 8, 2020). "Doug Ford calls Ontario's low coronavirus testing rate 'unacceptable'". Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Crowe, Kelly (April 9, 2020). "Why isn't Canada testing everyone for coronavirus?". Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Hasham, Alysha (April 10, 2020). "Ontario to ramp up COVID-19 testing from 4,000 to 16,000 tests a day".
- ^ Rocca, Ryan (April 10, 2020). "Coronavirus: How Ontario is planning to hit 16K daily COVID-19 tests by May 6". Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario increases COVID-19 target to 20,000 tests a day". thestar.com. May 12, 2020. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Herhalt, Chris (May 29, 2020). "Ontario unveils new COVID-19 testing strategy. Here's what we know about the plan". Toronto.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Ontario labs can process 50,000 COVID-19 tests a day. Why aren't they?". Toronto. October 23, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario reporting record number of both new COVID-19 cases and tests today". CP24. December 10, 2020.
- ^ Donovan, Kevin (March 18, 2020). "Huge backlog in COVID-19 test results means Ontario is making decisions based on old information". Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "Concerns grow over slow pace of COVID-19 testing in Ontario | CBC News". Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Why Ontario's COVID-19 testing underestimates the spread of the virus | CBC News". Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario conducting fewer than 3,000 COVID-19 tests despite daily capacity of 13,000". Global News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Ontario is sending COVID-19 pharmacy swabs to California lab for processing". CBC News. October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Head of Public Health Ontario temporarily stepping down due to medical issues". CP24. April 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ontario's public health chief steps aside as COVID-19 fight intensifies". cbc.ca. April 9, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "INFO-GO | Government of Ontario Employee and Organization Directory". www.infogo.gov.on.ca. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus updates: Doug Ford loses his 'patience' over inadequate testing in Ontario | National Post". April 8, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Laboratory testing strategy recommendations for COVID-19, Interim Guidance 21 March 2020" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "Leaked email reveals Ontario regional medical officer's criticism of provincial COVID-19 strategy as cracks emerge in front line". thestar.com. March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "'A bunch of yahoos,' Ont. premier says of people protesting COVID-19 emergency measures | CTV News". Toronto.ctvnews.ca. April 23, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ "Anti-lockdown protestors take to Queen's Park again - CityNews Toronto". CityNews Toronto. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ Benzie, Robert (January 15, 2021). "Premier Doug Ford turfs MPP Roman Baber from Tory caucus for opposing COVID-19 lockdown". Toronto Star. Torstar. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Ford ousts MPP from caucus over open letter pushing for end to COVID-19 lockdown". cbc.ca. January 15, 2021.
- ^ @Roman_Baber (January 15, 2021). "I was removed from the @OntarioPCParty caucus. It's a regretful decision since many colleagues agree with me, incl @fordnation in large part. I don't regret speaking out for millions of lives & livelihoods decimated by Public Health, I serve the public. The Lockdown is grounded in false public health narrative, poor planning & bad data. While Doug only cares about re-election, Lockdowns are killing more than saving. I couldn't watch the suffering anymore. I hope I encouraged other professionals to speak out" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 15, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Today's coronavirus news: Toronto police arrest, lay charges after anti-lockdown rally held at Yonge-Dundas Square; The Beer Store temporarily closes one of its locations after employee tests positive". The Star. January 23, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Morris, Siobhan (April 10, 2021). "Barrie Police ticket organizer of anti-lockdown protest". CTV News Barrie. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Keith, Elizabeth (April 17, 2021). "Huge Crowds Are In Barrie Protesting The Government's Latest COVID-19 Measures (PHOTOS)". Narcity. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Police responding to large-scale anti-lockdown protest in Hamilton". . April 17, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ Benzie, Robert (February 23, 2021). "Ontario government rejects need for 'duplicate' sick pay program". Toronto.com. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
External links
| show COVID-19 pandemic |
|---|
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada by province or territory
- 2020 in Ontario
- Health in Ontario
- 2020 disasters in Canada
- 2021 in Ontario
- 2021 disasters in Canada