Ford hints decision on Stay-at-Home order coming on Wednesday

Premier Doug Ford hinted that stricter restrictions are coming for the Ontario regions experiencing the most COVID-19 transmission.

The province is already under a shutdown, but the top doctors for Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa say that’s not enough and are calling for a provincial Stay-at-Home order to stifle transmission.

“We’ll discuss that tomorrow,” Ford said at a news conference Tuesday when asked about the possibility of issuing a second Stay-at-Home order.

He shared his disappointment at seeing crowds of shoppers at Yorkdale mall over the weekend, saying he hoped people wouldn’t be shopping needlessly during the shutdown.

“This variant is taking off,” he said. “Please follow all the protocols. Stay at home.”

• See also:
  • Ontario moves up essential worker COVID-19 vaccinations to mid-May
  • Ontario moves into Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccination
  • Ontario’s restaurants call on the province to pay over $100 million for shut downs

He spoke from Seneca College in Toronto where he announced Ontario is moving into Phase 2 of its immunization strategy effective immediately.

Phase 2 will focus on essential workers, those with medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus, and people living in hotspot neighbourhoods.