Feds sending two mobile health units for "extremely serious" COVID-19 situation in the GTA

The Government of Canada is sending multiple mobile health units to Ontario to help combat COVID-19 in the province.

At a press conference on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government would be deploying two units to the Greater Toronto Area.

“The spike in COVID-19 cases this month has put a strain on hospitals,” Trudeau said. “For Ontario in particular, the situation is extremely serious.”

The mobile health units will provide up to 200 additional hospital beds and free up space for people who need ICU care.

Both units are able to provide “vital” medical equipment and supplies, the Prime Minister told reporters.

At a separate press conference, Bill Blair, the Minister of Public Safety, provided more details on the mobile units.

Blair said that the units are being deployed in response to a request for assistance from Ontario and will be staffed by the province.

They will help ensure that critical care beds are freed up for patients who need them the most, Blair noted, and relieve pressure on Ontario’s strained healthcare capacity.

“Keeping you and your family safe is our top priority,” Trudeau said.

The Government of Ontario confirmed 2,662 new COVID-19 cases and 87 more virus-related deaths on Friday morning.

The province has now seen 250,226 COVID-19 cases and 5,701 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.