iPolitics By Iain Sherriff-Scott. Published on May 18, 2021 3:01pm Health Minister Christine Elliott, pictured at a news conference in May 2020, said Tuesday the province will release a plan to reopen the economy soon. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star)
As Canada’s vaccination campaign continues to gain momentum, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said Tuesday her government’s plan to reopen the economy is coming “very soon.”
While Elliott couldn’t say when the province would release its plan, she said “many of the (government’s) ministries” are collaborating on it.
“We have been working with the chief medical officer of health and the medical experts on a safe and careful reopening of Ontario, because the last thing we want is to go too quickly and get into a fourth wave,” Elliott said. “We have to do everything we can to avoid that.”
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The federal government thinks Canadians could be allowed to enjoy drinks on patios, camping trips, and small get-togethers outside with friends and family this summer if certain vaccination targets are met, according to a “roadmap” for post-vaccine life released Friday.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu said provinces and territories can use these guidelines to inform how, and when, certain measures should be eased.
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Try refreshing your browser. COVID-19: Federal roadmap shares vision of life after vaccination ; Ontario reports 2,362 new cases Back to video
According to the roadmap’s vision for “summer,” if 75 per cent of those eligible for vaccination have at least one dose and twenty per cent have both, then restrictions start to lift based on local conditions. Canadians would need to maintain measures like physical distancing and mask-wearing indoors, “But you can look forward to small outdoor gather
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Ontario reported 2,320 new cases of COVID-19 and 32 additional deaths Wednesday.
Ottawa Public Health reported 115 new lab-confirmed cases and one new death.
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Try refreshing your browser, or COVID-19: Ontario expects new shipment of AstraZeneca next week for possible booster shots Back to video
Ontario will receive a new shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine next week that can be used for second doses, but it’s still unclear when, if and how they will be administered.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province is waiting for more safety information from Health Canada and the national vaccination advisory committee before deciding whether to administer the 254,500 AstraZeneca doses to arrive in the province next week and the 50,000 does already on hand.
Ont. Update on COVID-19 Vaccination as Province Pauses AstraZeneca First Doses
In a news conference at Queen’s Park, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott provides an update on the province’s vaccination plan against COVID-19. She is joined by Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. This update comes as the province is pausing the administering of first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in response to new data concerning the relative likelihood of incidences of rare blood clots linked to the vaccine. The Ontario government is still considering whether to use the AstraZeneca vaccine for second doses. (May 12, 2021) (no interpretation)