Premier Doug Ford has ordered Ontario’s Jobs and Recovery Committee to begin planning for a gradual, measured and safe reopening of the province after the danger posed by Covid-19 has passed.
That time hasn’t come yet, and Ford adds that any framework will have strict criteria that must be met before any restrictions are eased.
For the time being, Health Minister Christine Elliott says we are to stay at home and keep practising social distancing.
Modelling data released today shows a peak in community-acquired cases is happening. Provincial officials now predict 20-thousand cases of the virus by the end of April, which is way down from the previous estimate of 80-thousand.
“As you’ve seen today, the updated modelling shows early, but unmistakable signs that our collective efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19 are working,” said Elliott. “The Province has avoided a significant surge in cases. The rate of growth day-over-day has stabilised with the outbreak of this virus having likely peaked in the community.”
Elliott adds that while things are trending towards a best-case scenario in Ontario, hundreds of cases are still being reported in the Province.
The modelling released today shows that our months of planning and collective action to stop the spread of #COVID19 is working. But in order for these projections to become reality, we must continue to stay home and practise physical distancing. https://t.co/vGlR9nSIZ3
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) April 20, 2020
Today’s data shows the steps we’ve taken to stop the spread of #COVID19 are working. However, this virus continues to pose a serious threat to our health and emergency measures must stay in place to continue reducing the number of cases and deaths. https://t.co/qt0GPHDHB2 pic.twitter.com/nRSIouG0j1
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 20, 2020
To watch Premier Doug Ford’s full April 20th address see below.