As the province re-opens more businesses, a group representing doctors says we can’t afford to relax COVID-19 precautions.
The Ontario Medical Association says the province needs to take steps to avoid a second surge of new cases.
Those include investments in fast and accessible testing for COVID-19. The group representing doctors in the province wants the Ford government to make sure it has the capacity to test and trace all COVID-19 cases while still maintaining your privacy.
In a new report, it urges the province to look out for vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and people with existing medical conditions.
Additionally, it says you should still keep your distance from other people, wash your hands, and get your flu shot.
OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill says they also want you to wear a mask in public.
“We have pivoted a little bit to suggest everyone should be wearing masks, and it’s important to realize that we’re not talking about the same masks that people wear in the hospital. What we need, the general public needs, is a barrier. Any cloth mask will do,” Dr. Hill explains.
The group says if you are working from home, employers should allow you to continue doing so.
“What we have learnt, from the experiences of other countries, and historically from other viruses and pandemics is that we should not rush,” Dr. Hill notes.
“Reopening the province needs to occur in a phased and gradual manner to safely balance the need to restart the economy and ramp up deferred services, while continuing to protect everyone from the risk of exposure and preserving system capacity to respond to another outbreak or surge in cases.”
