Ontario?s new COVID-19 restrictions include increased police powers, restricting gatherings

[Mary Wilson]

Posted April 16, 2021 4:21 pm
By Nick Westoll

... Ford announced an extension of Ontario?s state of emergency and stay-at-home order in line with recommendations made by doctors and scientists earlier in the day.
As part of the new restrictions, he said all non-essential construction and recreational facilities such as tennis courts and playgrounds will be closed.

... officers will temporarily be allowed to ask people where people live and why they aren?t at their home. Jones said officers will have the discretion to issue a $750 ticket if the resident declines to respond to the questions or fails to provide a valid reason.

... The new restrictions came as the provincial government unveiled new projection data on Friday indicating the only way to flatten the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is a six-week stay-at-home order and at least 100,000 doses of vaccine administered a day.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7764119/covid-ontario-restrictions-police-borders-gatherings/?utm_source=site_banner

[Mary Wilson]

Ontario turns to other provinces for 'urgently needed' help with overloaded ICUs

Published Friday, April 16, 2021 9:18AM EDT
Last Updated Friday, April 16, 2021 3:31PM EDT
Colin D'Mello

TORONTO -- Premier Doug Ford's government is reaching out to every single province and territory asking for help with health-care resources as the third wave of COVID-19 inundates Ontario's intensive care units (ICU) and overwhelms physicians and nurses.

In a letter sent to the other provinces and territories, Ontario's Ministry of Health is acknowledging that the province's ICUs are becoming "increasingly strained" leading to an estimated gap in staffing of around 4,145 nurses over the next four months.

... The request for health-care workers includes:

? 500 Nurses (ICU/Critical Care/recovery room/general)

? 100 Respiratory Therapists

? 10 Perfusionists

? 10 Anesthesia Assistants

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-turns-to-other-provinces-for-urgently-needed-help-with-overloaded-icus-1.5390044

[Shiloh]

Source: https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/full-list...ario-1.5390803

TORONTO -- The Ontario government has unveiled new public health restrictions as the province faces record-breaking COVID-19 case counts and intensive care admissions.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement during a news conference on Friday, saying the province would place restrictions on interprovincial travel, limit outdoor gatherings and allow police to stop people to inquire about their reason for leaving their residence.

CTV News Toronto has compiled a list of the new restrictions here...