But premier essentially makes case for why he thinks schools shouldn t be open
Author of the article: Brian Lilley
Publishing date: May 27, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 2 minute read • Ontario Premier Doug Ford wipes his head as he holds a press conference regarding the plan for Ontario to open up at Queen s Park during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto May 20, 2021. Photo by Nathan Denette /THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is asking medical experts, pediatricians, local medical officers and what his office calls “education partners” for their advice on resuming in-class learning.
While Ford says he wants schools open again, his three-page letter seeking advice strikes a worried and negative tone.
By Shawn Jeffords
TORONTO Ontario hospitals were given the green light Wednesday to gradually resume non-urgent surgeries as COVID-19 infections decline across the province.
The chief medical officer of health said he was rescinding an emergency order issued April 20 that made hospitals temporarily stop the procedures during an onslaught of cases.
Dr. David Williams said daily COVID-19 rates, hospitalizations and intensive care admissions appear to be trending downward, giving some hospitals the capacity to restart non-urgent surgeries.
“While these numbers remain high and we continue to see demand for health services related to COVID-19, we are beginning to see available capacity among community and hospital partners in some areas of the province,” he said in a memo.
TORONTO Premier Doug Ford will make an announcement about Ontario’s reopening plan today.
Ford will be joined by Health Minister Christine Elliott and the province’s top doctor at a news conference at 3 p.m.
A stay-at-home order aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario was extended last week and is currently set to lift June 2.
A spokeswoman for Ford has said Ontario will not return to the tiered colour-coded restrictions system it used before imposing the stay-at-home order.
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Ontario hospitals are asking Ford for a staged and cautious reopening of the province.
In a letter to the premier, the Ontario Hospital Association says several factors should be considered in plans to ease restrictions.