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‘We can’t take chances,’ celebrate the holidays only with other members of your household, Doug Ford urges

Jan 11, 2022 , , , , by shlf

Ho-ho-hold off on inviting guests for Christmas.

That’s the advice from the provincial government as cases continue to rise at near-record levels and deaths mount, with 35 more fatalities reported Wednesday.

“We can’t take chances,” Premier Doug Ford told his daily briefing. “We have to bend the curve and stop the spread.”

He said public health experts are urging people to celebrate only with members of their own households, especially in the lockdown zones of Toronto and Peel.

People who live alone can pair exclusively with one other household and students returning from college and university should quarantine in their dorms or apartments and limit close contacts for 10 to 14 days before travelling home.

While pandemic guidelines allow people who live in green, yellow and orange zones in Ontario’s five-stage, colour-coded framework for pandemic restrictions to have up to 10 people indoors, Ford still urged caution.

“This year isn’t like any other.”

The New Democrats said Ontario ended up in a dicey situation so close to the holiday season because Ford waited too long to impose meaningful public health restrictions and the virus got out of control.

“It never should have come to this,” Deputy NDP Leader John Vanthof said in a statement.

Under fire for the closures of non-essential businesses to customers in Toronto and Peel, Ford asked Ontarians to order from them online or by phone and do curbside pickup instead of shopping on major websites like Amazon.com.

“Shop local and shop early.”

Ontario reported 1,373 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, just below the seven-day average of 1,389 that peaked at 1,443 on Nov. 16.

There were 445 new infections in Toronto, 415 in Peel and 136 in York Region, which is hoping to stay out of lockdown on Friday when the province decides where public health measures need to be strengthened.

Nine of the last 35 deaths were in nursing homes, where 59 more residents and 16 staff have tested positive for the highly contagious virus.

While the number of people in hospital for COVID-19 fell to 523 and those in intensive care remained steady at 159, another 15 critically ill ICU patients required intubation to be placed on ventilators to breathe, raising that number to 106.

Schools had 162 new cases in students and staff, with 688 or 14 per cent of Ontario’s 4,828 schools reporting infections. Four schools were closed because of outbreaks.

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter:

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UPDATE: Hwy. 400 cleared near Honey Harbour after truck malfunction

Nov 18, 2021 , , , , by shlf

UPDATE: Emergency crews have cleared the scene after a disabled tractor trailer was removed from Hwy. 400.

Southern Georgian Bay OPP officers had closed the southbound part of Hwy. 400 near the Honey Harbour exit to allow tow crews to clear the tractor trailer. 

Winter weather is causing delays on many roadways throughout Simcoe County today. Pack your patience and be on alert while driving.

The snowfall will continue today, with as much as 10 to 15 cm of . 

For more .

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‘Using a sledgehammer to swat a fly’: Barrie siding with conservation authorities in spat with Ontario government

Nov 2, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Barrie is wading into a power struggle unfolding between conservation authorities and the Ontario government.

On Nov. 30, the city’s general committee approved a motion asking the province to repeal or amend changes to the Conservation Authorities and Planning Acts, as set out in Bill 229.

Under the proposal, which must be ratified by council next week, Barrie will request the province delay passage of clauses affecting municipal concerns. A longer transition period — up to December 2022 — should be enacted to give time to properly budget for the changes, the city says.

The draft legislation introduces policies that alter conservation authorities’ role in regulating development, the permit appeal process and reviewing planning applications. Municipalities rely on these agencies for environmental-protection expertise, Coun. Clare Riepma said.

It also grants broader authority to the province to make decisions without conservation authority data and expertise, he said.

Mayor Jeff Lehman noted the Ontario Big City Mayors caucus, , approved a similar motion days ago.

“Every one of us felt reform was needed,” he said. “(But) the government needs to slow down and consult. We’ve had tremendous progress made in cleaning up Lake Simcoe — phosphorus reduction and the return of native fish species we thought were gone. That is really due to the efforts of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). Their mandate has proven to be very important. I would never defend the worst excesses of scope creep; however, this bill goes way beyond that.”

The caucus joined a chorus of municipalities and conservation authorities calling on the province to slow down.

But others opposed the city’s effort, noting Simcoe County recently decided against passing a similar resolution.

“I’ve not seen (conservation authorities) changing the way they do business and focusing primarily on their core mandates,” Coun. and city representative on the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority board, Gary Harvey, said. “(They) argue Bill 229 will create more costs and delays, which is untrue. Some of these changes will actually streamline processes. Conservation authorities have more powers than police and bylaw officers. They can go onto property without a warrant. Some changes need to occur to provide a good balance between conservation, municipalities and landowners.”

Riepma compared the legislation to , which threaten to bypass elements of the planning process, and he called Harvey’s argument “one of the best pieces of spin doctoring” he’d seen in “a long time.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen such a display of alternative facts,” Riepma, who sits on the LSRCA board, said. “We have 36 conservation authorities in the province. There’s no doubt a couple of them may be quite dysfunctional. Something needs to be done about them. It seems this (legislation) is a bit like using a sledgehammer to swat a fly. In this case, the fly is sitting on a window. We’re not dealing with science anymore; it’s what will the minister approve.”

The motion would be sent to several provincial government officials, including Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Jeff Yurek and Barrie area MPPs.

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Stevenson Memorial Hospital Prepares COVID-19 Assessment Centre for Fall/Winter Operation

Nov 1, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is continuing its operation as the fall season progresses and is preparing for the winter months with the construction of a new structure onsite. Starting today, the assembly of a heated, winterized structure will take place in the southwest corner of the lower parking lot which will transition to the Hospital’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre in early November.

The Assessment Centre will continue to operate as a drive-thru operation, but the new 40 ft long x 20 ft wide structure will have a garage door on each end that can house two cars at a time. Traffic will continue to flow through SMH’s lower parking lot to the new Assessment Centre and back out to Fletcher Crescent once complete.

“We are continuing to operate our COVID-19 Assessment Centre to meet the needs of our community as the weather changes,” says Jody Levac, President and CEO, SMH. “Our new structure will ensure our staff and community members are safe from the elements. We are keeping our Centre onsite for many reasons, including proximity to our Lab, stewardship of PPE, IT support and for our staff who are redeployed to other areas once their shifts are complete at the Centre.”

Those seeking COVID-19 tests at SMH are required to call and book a same-day appointment by calling (249) 501-0383. The Assessment Centre operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone line opens at 7 a.m. each operating day.

For more information about SMH’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre, please visit www.stevensonhospital.ca/covid-19-assessment-centre.html

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Mayor John Tory says he hopes to open gyms after 28-day restrictions lift; Toronto reports 321 new COVID-19 cases

Oct 29, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Mayor John Tory said Wednesday that he would like to see businesses reopen at the end of the most recent 28-day round of local public health restrictions.

“I will admit that I have a bias to a plan that can have doors open safely in as many places as possible,” said Tory, speaking at a COVID-19 press conference at Toronto city hall.

He said he is thinking of public health not just in terms of COVID-19, but in terms of other health indicators.

“If people are out of work, they can’t feed their family or themselves properly, they may not be able to pay their rent and might’ve lost their housing — they’re going to have mental health issues by virtue of the fact that they’re in crisis,” he said.

Tory made his remarks as Canada marked a grim milestone — 10,000 people across the country have died since the virus first landed here, likely in January. The first death in Canada was recorded in March.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, reported 321 new cases in the city on Wednesday, with 140 people hospitalized and 37 in ICU. Over the weekend, Ontario broke records for new infections, surpassing 1,000 cases in one day for the first time since the outbreak began.

A second COVID wave is also swamping Europe, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying Wednesday that health authorities have lost track of the virus, triggering a month-long partial lockdown that will see bars and restaurants close beginning Monday.

Toronto was returned to a modified Stage 2 on Oct. 10 in an attempt to control a growing resurgence of the virus, closing gyms and banning indoor dining, but the number of new infections has continued to climb in the city. Health officials have pointed to Thanksgiving gatherings as a possible cause.

Tory added that he thinks there could be a way to have gyms reopen at the end of the 28-day period, subject to certain conditions.

He said people want to stay fit, and need to stay fit to deal with the stress of the pandemic, and as the weather grows colder, will increasingly be looking for ways to work out indoors.

Tory said the pandemic has been devastating to local businesses, some of which have been forced to shut down more than once.

“Independent businesses that have been around for some period of time are used to recessions, where you lose a percentage of your sales and some of your activity is curtailed because of an economic slowdown,” said Tory. “What nobody has ever experienced in our lifetime I don’t think, is a complete cessation of business.”

He said businesses that haven’t failed are facing serious liquidity problems, and have had to lay off staff.

“It has caused untold anguish and damage to the economy. You just have to hope — just like grass that sometimes will die — that there’s a way in which it can come back, if you water and care for it, and if we get some break on the health side.”

Francine Kopun is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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‘We pulled off in 6 months what often can take years’: minister’s zoning order speeds up Oro-Medonte project

Oct 26, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Provincial support for a proposed medical innovation park represents a “massive” step toward bringing the project to fruition, according to an official connected to the development.

“We pulled off in six months what often can take years, sometimes even a decade,” said David Yeaman, president of Molded Precision Components (MPC).

The recent granting of a minister’s zoning order (MZO) by Ontario’s municipal affairs and housing minister helps pave the way for the Oro-Medonte Medical Innovation Park, planned for an 82-acre site along Line 7 North.

Yeaman said the minister’s order was necessary to break ground by this time next year, noting the property must be rezoned from agricultural to industrial.

“Without the MZO process, it could be five to 10 years and not get done at all,” he added.

The use of minister’s zoning orders has faced criticism from those who argue it allows developers to bypass the normal planning approval process at the municipal level and removes the requirement for public consultation.

“There’s no place for (these orders) when we have all the planning processes we have here that should be followed,” said Sandy Agnew, a member of AWARE Simcoe.

The area group works for transparency and accountability in government and to protect water, the environment and health. (Agnew was not aware of the project in question).

“The risk is that developments go ahead without proper consideration of all the aspects of it, especially environmental aspects of it,” he added.

Once a little-employed legislative tool, MZOs have been used more than two dozen times by the current provincial government to designate land uses.

According to Yeaman, projects that benefit from these orders must follow “the appropriate protocols,” including satisfying environmental regulations.

It “is designed around things that will have a massive impact on the economy or, in our case, the health and security of the country,” he added.

His plan is to establish manufacturing facilities with a focus on medical and personal protective equipment, ranging from hand sanitizer and face shields, to gowns and masks.

Purchased by a subsidiary of MPC, the site is located across from Lake Simcoe Regional Airport.

Oro-Medonte council and county council supported the request for the minister’s zoning order.

— With files from Brad Pritchard

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Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston restricts visitors again

Oct 26, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Stevenson Memorial Hospital has taken a step back in its visitor policy.

The hospital is returning to its restrictive Phase 1 policy as COVID-19 cases continue to climb.

Visitors are not permitted for patients unless there are extenuating circumstances.

“We understand how difficult this is for patients and their families, however we must implement these restrictions to keep our hospital environment safe,” said Carrie Jeffreys, clinical services and chief nursing executive vice-president. “These restrictions are temporary and the safety of our patients, staff and physicians is a top priority.”

In the spring, while the hospital’s visitor policy was also in Phase 1, it implemented virtual options to connect patients with family members.

“During the last Phase 1 restrictions, we were able to connect patients virtually with loved ones and the community was very accommodating. We made these connections while following guidelines from public health, keeping everyone safe, which we intend to do this time as well,” Jeffreys said.

Tablets can be used at the bedside to allow patients to connect with loved ones. Staff will also provide regular updates on the patient’s health status to a designated family member.

In addition, vulnerable patients in need of extra support with activities of daily life, such as eating, hygiene, communication and decision-making, will be allowed to have a designated care provider for this purpose.

“We are doing our best to align with hospitals in our area while keeping in mind the increase in cases, as well as guidelines from Ontario Health and our local health unit,” Jeffreys said.

Women in the birthing unit will continue to be allowed one support person (for the entire duration), and patients 18 years of age or younger may have one parent or legal guardian accompany them while in the hospital. Extenuating circumstances, such as a patient with cognitive impairment or a disability, will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

A priority on visitation will be given to patients who are palliative, who are actively dying or have extenuating circumstances.

For more details, visit .

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Martin Regg Cohn: Unmasked amid COVID-19, Sam Oosterhoff is a politician of faith who lost face

Oct 21, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Let us forgive Sam Oosterhoff for committing the cardinal sin of hypocrisy. Seriously.

He has been unmasked — huddling , in defiance of his own government’s guidelines. A revelation on social media for all to see — a politician of faith losing face on Facebook, until he deleted his photo-op.

The moral of the story? Do unto others, and breathe unto others, as you would have them breathe unto you.

Behold, : “I should have worn a mask when we took a quick pic, given the proximity of everyone, and I apologize for failing to do so.”

Oosterhoff is not the first public figure guilty of a breach of faith, nor will he be the last to stray from the true path. Many federal politicians more famous than he — from — have revealed themselves as two-faced, exposing their faces in public places while exhorting all others to mask themselves.

Premier Doug Ford has forgiven him his sins. But before this episode is forgotten, Oosterhoff has an opportunity to atone — by making amends.

While his faith warns of the Antichrist, Oosterhoff can be the antibody who inoculates everybody — the embodiment of an antiviral, a proselytizer in a pandemic, a preacher for true believers, a role model for fellow travellers in the Progressive Conservative movement.

We worry about all those who worship the false idols of immunity and immortality, so who better than the moralizing Oosterhoff — always avowedly pro-life — to take a vow of fidelity to save lives in mid-pandemic? Surely that is the moral of the story here.

First elected as an MPP in 2016 at the tender age of 19, thanks to the embrace of the Canadian Reformed Church flock in his Niagara riding, he has long worn his faith on his sleeve and put his heart and soul into his politics. Forever chaste, belatedly chastened, he has now seen the light.

Henceforth, Oosterhoff shall go forth and disseminate the public health mission of saving people from themselves, shielding them from the evil of the virus, the sin of temptation and the folly of defiance in the time of COVID-19. On this matter of life and death, Oosterhoff could be a true servant of the Lord, not just Ford.

As a man of faith, who better to make the case to his fellow worshippers to pray at home, not in a house of worship?

With COVID-19 cases rising inexorably, the danger is growing in places where people congregate. That’s why you hear public health officials fretting about “congregate care” in nursing homes, but houses of worship are also places of congregate caring.

That’s why they’re called congregations. After all, fellowship is part of worship in the best of times.

But the worst of times are no ordinary times. Gyms and restaurants are facing new restrictions, called upon to make enormous economic sacrifices to keep people apart.

It’s worth asking why churches and synagogues, temples and gurdwaras, are still allowing people to make sacrifices of themselves in the middle of a plague. Yes, many religious leaders insist they are faithfully following the path of social distancing, but at a time of heightened anxiety, when public health officials are demanding maximum restraint — asking people to avoid work and stay at home — why risk the peril of prayer in public places?

If people can stay connected to their friends and officemates remotely via the new technology of Zoom, why not stay connected to God through the timeless miracle of remote prayer? Why risk infecting others by inflicting themselves on a house of worship, rather than worshipping from home via Wi-Fi?

Faith demands sacrifices, but surely the life of no human being is worth sacrificing to a supreme being. Church choirs have agreed to stand down and go silent, so that we might all sing from the same song book rather than spread the devil’s virus, but why are all other congregants free to gather up close and in person?

There has been enormous hand-wringing about restrictive rules for restaurants, but the clasping of hands in public prayer stirs little discussion in Canada. Across the U.S., religious groups have pushed back — litigating and congregating in large numbers against governing authorities that try to restrain or constrain the supposedly inalienable rights of evangelical Christians or ultra-Orthodox Jews — but as the COVID-19 caseload increases, the time for long-distance praying is surely drawing closer.

That’s the discussion that people of faith, and politicians of faith, must have. There is no better time than now, after the public folly of Oosterhoff’s Facebook photo-op.

We now know that masks save lives — not just for the wearer but for others in the vicinity. But we also know — now more than ever — that keeping our distance keeps us that much safer.

In mid-pandemic, no life is worth risking on a wing or a prayer.

Martin Regg Cohn is a Toronto-based columnist covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter:

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How were so many infected? Everything you need to know about Hamilton’s SpinCo outbreak

Oct 8, 2021 , , , , by shlf

SpinCo Hamilton has emerged as the site of one of .

What started as three COVID-positive cases on Monday, Oct. 5, has grown to 74 in just over a week. The cases now include at least five people who live outside of Hamilton and patrons and staff ranging in age from teenagers to people in their late 50s.

By The Spectator’s count, as many as 2,500 people — including those who visited the gym and their friends and family — could have been exposed, based on information provided by Hamilton public health about general exposure numbers and SpinCo outbreak numbers specifically.

“There has been a lot of transmission associated with it,” said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton’s medical officer of health, on Tuesday. “It is concerning.”

As the story develops, we’re compiling everything you need to know about the cases connected to the studio, how to stay safe working out and about how the outbreak is affecting the broader Hamilton community.

What is SpinCo?

SpinCo is a spin studio franchise with 18 locations across Canada, including one in Hamilton. According to its website, the studio offers “structured, full-body spin classes designed to strengthen the body, energize the mind and feed the soul.” Riders move to the beat of the music in unison, typically in a dark room with loud music. Co-owners Naz Zarezadegan and Ira Price opened the James Street North SpinCo location in January.

When was the outbreak declared?

Hamilton public health at the studio on Monday, Oct. 5, after two patrons and one staff member tested positive.

How many people are infected?

As of Friday, Oct. 16, a total of 74 people connected to the SpinCo outbreak have tested positive for COVID. That includes 46 patrons, two staff and 26 secondary “household-spread” cases, meaning the person didn’t visit the studio but caught the virus from someone who did.

What do we know about those who were infected?

On Tuesday, Hamilton public health said three-quarters of those who are sick are women. Ages of those infected range from late teens to late 50s. Most live in Hamilton but at least six live outside the city.

What is the condition of those who are sick?

No one that public health is aware of has been hospitalized, public health said Friday. In an Instagram post over the weekend, SpinCo said: “As of today, everyone who has tested positive, are well.” At least one rider told The Spectator on Thursday that she was with COVID. Her symptoms included loss of taste and smell, difficulty breathing, body aches and “unbelievable” sinus pain.

How many people were potentially exposed?

Hamilton public health said last week “” of the spin studio community may have been exposed to . That does not include “secondary” exposure to contacts outside the studio, such as family and friends. Richardson said public health does not know the exact number of secondary spread contacts. In general, people tend to have 20 to 25 contacts per case, she said. By The Spectator’s count, that brings the total number of people potentially exposed to 2,500.

When did spread occur?

According to the studio, people in “specific classes” were exposed to the virus from Sept. 28 until Oct. 5. Public health says it was looking at “several” classes over a few day period as times when people might have been exposed.

Was patient zero showing symptoms?

SpinCo says “patient zero displayed no symptoms.” Public health won’t comment on this, citing privacy.

Was the studio following public health’s guidelines?

Yes. Richardson says the studio did follow public health guidelines. Public health has had “tremendous co-operation” from SpinCo’s owners and operators as it investigated the outbreak, Richardson said, noting public health reviewed SpinCo’s policies and practices. The studio says it cut ridership in half to allow for physical distancing, allowing — 21 riders in the studio instead of the regular 43 — and maintaining a six-foot radius around each bike. The studio also had screening and sanitation measures in place.

If they were following guidelines, how did the outbreak happen?

This remains unclear. What we know is gym-goers aren’t required to wear masks while working out — that’s allowed under Hamilton’s mask bylaw — and the person who spread the virus was apparently asymptomatic. Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist at the University of Toronto, : “This can happen at any gym … This is not about how well the gym was run; this is about how COVID spreads. If you let people hangout together, without masks, sharing air, in the same space for a prolonged period of time … this was going to happen anyways.”

Is this Hamilton’s worst outbreak?

No. Hamilton’s worst outbreak was the Rosslyn Retirement residence where 64 residents and 22 staff tested positive for COVID. In that case, 16 residents died. The spin outbreak is, however, Hamilton’s first and worst gym-related outbreak. It is also one of Canada’s worst fitness studio outbreaks.

Has the SpinCo outbreak sparked another outbreak?

It seems so. Public health declared an outbreak at Radius restaurant on James Street South on Wednesday. Three staff tested positive. The restaurant said in a statement that their “first case” was linked to SpinCo. When reached by email, the owner said he didn’t have more details on how the case was connected to the spin studio. Public health said Thursday it was too early in their investigation to say if the two outbreaks were connected.

Have other communities seen outbreaks in gyms?

Yes. Waterloo Public Health declared a in September after three people contracted the virus. Other gyms in the Toronto area have seen COVID cases but haven’t experienced “outbreaks,” which is typically defined as spread within the location. This summer, Calgary spin studio Ride Cycle Club had an outbreak that infected 65 people, according to Alberta Health Services. The outbreak was declared on July 17 and ended Aug. 2.

How can you stay safe while working out?

Richardson stresses: if you are sick, do not go to a gym. Instead, take a walk outside or go for a run if you really want to exercise. If you are feeling well and want to go to a gym, you should still wear a mask — even while working out, which is more than what Hamilton’s mask bylaw requires. Be sure to wash your hands often and maintain six feet of physical distance between yourself and other gym-goers. Your gym also should not have loud music, since loud music increases the need to yell and yelling can increase the risk of COVID spread. If you want to lower your risk of contracting COVID while working out even further, exercise outside.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email:

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Ontario government lockdown: What does it look like for affected regions?

Oct 6, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The Ontario government has announced that starting Nov. 23, Toronto and Peel regions will be moving into COVID-19 lockdown. 

Earlier this month, the province launched a new to assess the status of its health units, based on case numbers and trends, with lockdown being the final tier holding the tightest restrictions for regions. 

Here’s what lockdown will look like

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 23, the two regions in lockdown will be required to adhere to the following restrictions: 

• Indoor gatherings will not be permitted, except with members of one’s own household (those who live alone can chose to have contact with one other person).

• Outdoor gatherings will be restricted to a maximum of 10 people.

• Weddings, funerals, and other religious services will be restricted to 10 people indoors or 10 people outdoors (with physical distancing).

• Non-essential retail will remain open for curbside pick-up or delivery only. However, supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, liquor stores, safety supply stores and convenience stores will be able to operate at 50 per cent capacity.

• Dining establishments and bars will be open for takeout, drive-through and delivery only.

• Personal care services will be closed.

• Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments will be closed.

• Indoor sports and recreational facilities will be closed (some exceptions may be made).

• Schools and daycares will remain open.

• Manufacturing, agriculture, supply chain and most construction will continue.

“Lockdowns are a difficult but necessary step to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks and bend the curve in the number of new cases based on the recent data, and to protect the health and well-being of people and families in these communities,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said.

As Toronto and Peel are moving into lockdown, a number of other health units across the province will also be switching tiers on Monday. View our to see statuses for all regions.