THUNDER BAY - The provincial government has laid out a multi-stage framework for reopening the economy, but it is calling it a roadmap, not a calendar, and has not committed to any specific timelines.
“The framework is how we are reopening, not when we are reopening,” said Premier Doug Ford during his daily media briefing on Monday. “As long as this virus remains a threat to Ontario, we will continue to act based on the best advice given to us. We can’t take anything for granted. We can’t take unnecessary risks.”
Reopening the provincial economy will be a gradual and staged approach relying on closely monitoring the impacts and any possible resurgence of COVID-19.
In the first stage, the province will consider opening select businesses and workplaces that meet public health guidelines, opening some select outdoor spaces, and allowing essential gatherings of a limited number of people.
Stage two will see additional workplaces open with significant mitigation plans, more public spaces, and larger public gatherings.
The final stage will see all workplaces reopen and relaxed restrictions on public gatherings.
Workplaces will be provided with guidelines from the Ministry of Labour and labour leaders on how to open safely and there will be increased workplace inspections.
No specifics were provided on what types of businesses may open first, with Ford saying this is a conversation that is just beginning.
There will also be two to four weeks between each stage in order to monitor the situation and ensure conditions are being met.
Transition from one stage to the next will rely upon several factors, including fewer daily COVID-19 cases, ongoing healthcare capacity in hospitals, health units contact tracing new cases, and expanded testing.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Minister of Health Christine Elliott. “We have a path forward. To meet this criteria and move forward, we need everyone to continue the extraordinary efforts to continue to stay home. Together we will defeat this virus.”
The timing of when things will start to open will be determined by where the province is in terms of flattening and reducing the curve of COVID-19 cases.
“Progress doesn’t mean we can quit now,” Ford said. “I won’t set hard dates until we are ready. The virus travels at its own speed. We must assure our plans for reopening the economy reflect Ontario’s unique situation. They must be responsible, they must be measured, and must be guided by our chief medical officer of health, the command table, and health experts.”
There are nearly 15,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, with 972 deaths. Last week, new modeling data showed the province could be at its peak in terms of community spread and Elliott said the province has been able to expand hospital capacity.
“We are not in many situations as other jurisdictions,” she said. “We are fortunately in a place where we do have that capacity. We are able to expand but we hope we don’t need to.”
There are more than 12,000 COVID-19 tests being conducted in Ontario on a daily basis with a goal still of 14,000 tests per day.
“There is still more work to do to keep the number of cases down,” Elliott said. “We are starting to see a slight downward trend over the last three days, but we don’t know if it’s a trend or just a coincidence.”
Ford added the reason the modeling data shows the province may have peaked in terms community spread is because of the work and sacrifices of all Ontarians who are staying home and practicing social distancing, and the people of Ontario will have to do it for a little while longer.
“I don’t want to go out there and start setting dates and we see a spike and then we have to start slowing things down,” he said. “Let’s get it right the first time. “Hopefully if we see the numbers come down in the next couple of weeks, we can lighten up the measures from the chief medical officer.”
“We are going to continue working hard. I encourage everyone to please continue following the protocols. We’ve come so far and we don’t want to give up. The quicker we see the numbers come down, the quicker we can go back to normal. We have to keep following the protocol.”
Last week Ford said areas of the province such as rural or Northern jurisdictions will not open any earlier than the rest of Ontario.
The complete framework can be found on the Ontario government website.