'We want certainty in life': A roundup of Ontario COVID-19 news

COVID-19 news came fast and furious on Monday in Ontario.

The province announced $200 million in funding, the opposition asked for more, two levels of government ramped up their public awareness campaigns, Toronto declared an emergency, the province announced a new online self-assessment tool, and the premier talked about the efforts being made to increase the province's capacity to test people for COVID-19 so they can feel more secure.

And that wasn't the biggest news — the provincial government announced it will order the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces as of the end of the day tomorrow. You can read all about that here.

For the rest, keep on reading this post.

$200-million social services boost

The provincial government is pouring $200 million into social services to help Ontarians get by as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the economy.

Some of the funds will go to go boost the emergency assistance already offered through Ontario to people with limited income, assets and credit who are experiencing a personal financial crisis, who aren't already on Ontario Works, to cover needs such as food, rent and child care. The changes will suspend a rule that limits emergency assistance to only once in a six-month period and will allow people to receive emergency assistance for 48 days before submitting a full Ontario Works application, according to a government backgrounder.

Meanwhile, those who are on Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program can get a discretionary boost in funding to pay for increased needs because of COVID-19. The government is also suspending some bureaucratic requirements for social assistance, such as the need for some documentation, in order to decrease the need for in-person contact with social service workers.

As well, some of the funding will go to municipalities and other organizations that provide social services, such as shelters and food banks, with more details on the distribution of that money to come.

"We are acting quickly to support those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless during this unprecedented time," said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark in a statement. "This funding will go straight to communities, who know best what the immediate needs are on the ground in their local shelters."

NDP's ask

Meanwhile, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is asking the province to send $2,000 cheques to everyone who has lost their jobs or is losing income because of COVID-19 — she said they should go immediately and automatically to those enrolled in Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program, Employment Insurance, and the new federal Emergency Care Benefit, and be distributed to everyone who needs them by April 1. Then, she wants to see ongoing income support throughout the crisis.

Asked how something like that could be established quickly, Horwath pointed to the province's recent program to send cheques to families affected by the school strikes, which was plagued with issues including double payments.

She also wants the economic update and fiscal plan that will be released Friday to include:

• a $250-per-child emergency child benefit to the same households as the $2,000 cheques,
• a minimum of $1 billion in surge funding for hospitals,
• top-up funding for Public Health Units,
• a fund to provide child-care for essential workers (though the province is already in the process of opening up free child care for essential workers),
• a Personal Support Worker retention fund,
• interest-free utility bill deferrals,
• the end of time-of-use hydro billing (something Ford has said he supports),
• a stabilization fund for the non-profit sector, including food banks (similar to what the government later announced),
• and support for small and medium-sized businesses, including a provincial top-up to the federal wage subsidy and support for working at home.

New ads launched

Both the Ontario and federal governments are ramping up their public awareness campaigns, after facing criticism that citizens are being given mixed messages about their responsibilities during the pandemic.

Ontario launched some of its COVID-19 public awareness television content Monday — but just bumpers and stickers, short voiceovers and ads that run along the bottom of the screen, respectively. Full 15-second ad spots are expected next week, according to the minister of health's office.

Airport signage was being launched Monday, while announcer-read radio began March 16, paid social on March 10 and paid search ads — aimed at combatting misinformation on the novel coronavirus, launched on Jan. 28, three days after the first case in Ontario was discovered.

There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses. Please take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus, and protect your health. pic.twitter.com/TbEtz2tlBp

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 13, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government was launching its own advertising campaign Monday. "You’ll see faces that you know and trust, people from our cultural sector getting out the recommendations from our health-care workers," he said at a media briefing.

The public communication from various levels of government has been sharply criticized by some health experts, including an ICU doctor who described it as "non-sensical, irresponsible, and completely ridiculous" in a recent interview with QP Briefing.

Toronto Emergency

Toronto Mayor John Tory declared a state of emergency, which allows him to make decisions that would normally require a full vote of council, saying it will allow him to respond quickly.

We are declaring a State of Emergency as part of the City's ongoing efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the municipal government can continue to act and respond quickly to the pandemic and any other events that arise in the weeks ahead. pic.twitter.com/xsjZQ4Pnf8

— John Tory (@JohnTory) March 23, 2020

New self-test

Ontario has launched a new online COVID-19 self-assessment tool that lets users answer questions about their health. It advises people who are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms to call 911 immediately. For everyone else, even if they have symptoms including a fever, a new cough, or difficulty breathing, it's unlikely they have COVID-19 unless they have travelled or are in close contact with a case or a sick traveller. Those who have had that kind of contact are advised to contact their primary care provider by phone or call telehealth.

That approach has been criticized by some health experts who say it ignores the reality that community transmission is occurring in Ontario.

This tool https://t.co/3mpElhpu7y tells you "It is unlikely that you have COVID-19" if you have symptoms but no travel or contact with someone who has travelled. This was true 3 weeks ago but is no longer accurate and is harmful. 13/

— Janine McCready (@janinemccready) March 22, 2020

Schools to remain closed

At his press conference Monday, Premier Doug Ford said schools will remain closed longer than the initial two weeks announced by his government before March break.

"The reality is, and I think everyone in this province knows, April 6 is not realistic," said Ford, adding that more information would come from Education Minister Stephen Lecce in the coming days.

Lecce's press secretary released a statement, but didn't offer any more details: “We are currently seeking the advice of [Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams] on how long the closure of publicly funded schools should continue. The minister has been clear, our government will take immediate action to ensure the safety of students and staff, and is preparing for all scenarios.”

New numbers

As of 10:30 a.m., Ontario saw 79 new COVID-19 cases in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of positive cases to 503, including those who have recovered and eight people who have died. That's a 19-per-cent increase in cases over the day before. Just over 2,000 tests were completed in the prior 24 hours, which breaks down to a four-day backlog at the current testing rate.

Twenty-six health-care workers have tested positive, according to Dr. Barbara Yaffe, associate chief medical officer of health. There were 23 people in hospital as of Friday, said Yaffe.

Yaffe also said Ontario's "sentinel testing" has found positives for the first time, five positives since Friday, in 2,182 tests since the virus reached Ontario. This testing looks for community spread of the virus by testing people in long-term care homes and hospitals with respiratory illness symptoms, but no known link to travel or someone with COVID-19. Five cases were identified, including three in a nursing home in the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge area, she said.

Ramping up testing to give certainty in life

The province is planning ramp up its testing ability from the current level of about 2,000 a day to 5,000 or higher.

Ford spoke about the need to do more testing at his press conference, in order to help the province respond to the virus and to give individuals the security they need to feel safe.

"We want certainty in life, we want certainty that we don't have COVID-19," he said, adding the province is doing everything it can to get enough supply of the reagent required to perform tests. "We'll spare no expense."

Yaffe said the lack of testing capacity has meant the province can't test for all positive cases. "Certainly we are concerned that it is spreading so we're putting in more measures," said Yaffe, referring to the social distancing measures that include closing schools and all non-essential business.

-with files from Sneh Duggal