Premier Doug Ford warns municipal leaders that COVID-19 ‘will be something we live with for a while longer’

Thestar.com
Aug. 17, 2021
Robert Benzie

On the eve of new vaccine mandates for hospital workers, Premier Doug Ford warns “we are not done with COVID yet.”

In a speech to delegates at the annual Association of Ontario Municipalities conference on Monday, Ford implored everyone in the province to get their shots.

“This is a virus that will exploit any opportunity, any weakness in the system to mutate and become even more lethal,” the premier said Monday.

“You only need to look south to see what can happen if we let our guards down and how quickly a variant can devastate an unvaccinated population,” he said, referring to a resurgence of COVID-19 stateside.

Ford’s comments come as Dr. Kieran Moore, the chief medical officer of health, is to announce Tuesday a vaccine mandate for doctors, nurses, and other “patient-facing” hospital workers.

As first revealed by the Star on Friday, Moore will also launch targeted COVID-19 booster shots later this month and keep current pandemic restrictions in place indefinitely.

“COVID will be something we live with for a while longer. We must always stay prepared,” Ford told municipal leaders.

“As the doctors have said, cases will rise, cases will fall,” he added.

“But the doctors have also said that case counts don’t mean what they used to because we have so many people vaccinated. That’s because vaccinations ensure that people who do get infected can avoid the worst-case scenarios.”

The premier said vaccines “ensure that we can protect our hospitals from being overrun and threatening the entire health care system.”

“And so I encourage everyone to do their part, get your shots and ensure you have the most protection possible -- for yourselves and for others,” he said.

The Star reported that Moore’s additional measures are designed to prevent another shutdown of the economy.

“The watchword is caution. We’re trying to be cautious,” a senior Progressive Conservative official said Friday.

“Nobody wants to lock down the economy again,” said the official, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations.

As of Sunday afternoon, 81.5 per cent of all eligible Ontarians 12 and up had their first shots and 73.4 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Ford boasted that it is “a vaccine effort that is among the most successful anywhere in the world” thanks to all levels of government working together.

On Tuesday, Moore will announce that hospital workers will be asked to get their shots.

“If you haven’t, you will be asked why not. If you don’t have it, you will need a medical exemption,” a second high-ranking government official said Friday.

“There will be a requirement for an education session (on the merits of vaccines) if you refuse to be vaccinated,” the official added.

“If you still continue to refuse, you will be required to get regularly tested (for COVID-19) twice a week,” the insider said, pointing out that people who choose not to get vaccinated could be transferred to other duties so they wouldn’t deal directly with patients.

A third top government official stressed “nobody is getting fired” for not getting vaccinated.

“We already don’t have enough nurses ... and PSWs (personal support workers).”

But the Tories are hopeful Moore’s edict and the education push will help boost numbers.

Also Tuesday, the chief medical officer will disclose that third shots could be dispensed as early as this month.

“As a first step (the booster shots will be) for vulnerable elderly people and the immunocompromised, such as cancer patients,” the second insider said.

“This is targeted and not for the broader population at this time. We want to follow the scientific advice and evidence.”

While Moore had said Ontario would reach his bar to allow full reopening this week -- with 80 per cent having had one shot and 75 per cent with both shots -- that is on hold.

Because of the fourth wave and the more contagious Delta variant, Step 3 capacity restrictions will continue.

That means limits of up to 100 people for outdoor social gatherings and up to 25 people indoors.

Restaurants must maintain safe distances between tables, gyms will be kept at half capacity, and shops will have to ensure physical distancing with indoor masks mandatory in all public settings.

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, who has been calling for mandatory vaccines for health-care and education workers, urged Ford to do more.

“While I’m happy to see the government finally adopt some of my proposals, it’s once again belated, grudging action, as is usually the case for Doug Ford,” said Del Duca.

“With school starting in mere weeks, I cannot understand how Doug Ford is set to announce a plan for mandatory vaccinations that doesn’t include frontline education workers. He is putting the lives of vulnerable children who are too young to receive a vaccine at risk.”