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Ontario Government Declares State Of Emergency

Dryden, ON, Canada / CKDR
Mike Ebbeling
Mar 17, 2020 | 8:20 AM


Ontario Government Declares State Of Emergency

A State of Emergency has been declared in Ontario.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement this morning.

Ford says “we are facing an unprecedented time in our history. This is a decision that was not made lightly. COVID-19 constitutes a danger of major proportions.”

The emergency order means:

1. The prohibition of organized public events of over 50 people, including parades, events, and services within places of worship until March 31st.

2. The following establishments are closed effective immediately until March 31:
-All Bars and Restaurants (except to provide takeout food and delivery) *Businesses with Dine-in ability like Pizza Hut will still be offering takeout and delivery service)
-All facilities providing indoor recreational programs
-All public libraries
-All private schools
-All licensed child care centres
-All theatres, including those offering live performances of music, dance and other art forms
-All movie theatres
-Concert venues

Ford stresses this is not a provincial shutdown, noting most businesses will continue to operate as normal.

He adds essential services will be available and grocery stores, convenience stores, manufacturing facilities, pharmacies, public transportation, construction sites and office building will all continue to operate.

Ford says “Right now we need to do everything possible to slow the spread of COVID-19 in order to avoid overwhelming our health care system. The health and well-being of every Ontarian must be our number one priority.`

Ontario is also investing up to $304 million to enhance the province’s response to COVID-19 by providing the following:

  • $100 million for increased capacity in hospitals to assist with the effective treatment of COVID-19 patients both in critical care and medicine beds.
  • $50 million for more testing and screening through public health, including additional funding to support extraordinary costs incurred to monitor, detect and contain COVID-19 in the province. This includes contact tracing, increased laboratory testing capacity and home testing.
  • $50 million to further protect frontline workers, first responders and patients by increasing the supply of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and equipment to protect them.
  • $25 million to support frontline workers working in COVID-19 assessment centres, including the creation of a new fund to provide respite care, child care services and other supports as they are needed.
  • $50 million for long-term care homes&nb sp;to support 24/7 screening, additional staffing to support infection control and additional supplies.
  • $20 million for residential facilities in developmental services, gender-based services and protective care for children and youth to support additional staffing, respite for caregivers impacted by school closures, personal protective equipment and supplies and transportation costs to minimize client exposure and to support social distancing, as well as additional cleaning costs.
  • $5 million to protect seniors in retirement homes through increased infection control and active screening procedures.
  • $4 million for Indigenous communities to support transportation costs for health care professionals and the distribution of critical supplies.