Thanksgiving misgivings: Your daily Ontario COVID-19 roundup

By Sneh Duggal and David Hains

Reviewing social circles

Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa questioned the practicality of "social circles" in a city like Toronto on Monday, the same day Ontario saw its highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases. The province introduced the concept of social circles in June, asking Ontarians to limit close contact to a group of no more than 10 people.

"In Toronto we have to acknowledge that the extent of the infection spread and the nature of city life means that the concept of the bubble – or the social circle – no longer reflects the circumstances in which we live," said de Villa, adding that it was a "sensible" and "effective" approach to use when restrictions were starting to ease.

"But with reopening and the return to school, times have changed. And that is what you need think about before you make a decision to go anywhere," she said, adding that people should stay six feet away from people they don't live with.

Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said he still values the social circle concept, but added that there has been increased "casualness" with it.

"It has become very much less disciplined, so we’re concerned about that," he said.

Williams said while some have followed the guidelines, "others have said it doesn’t really matter too much, but you can see by the numbers ... it does matter."

He said the province's public health measures table is reviewing the idea of social circles to see whether new guidelines need to be issued, especially in "hot zones" like Toronto.

Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath agreed with de Villa's assessment. "The bubble was burst a long time ago," she said of the plan to maintain strict social circles. "People have not been following this bubble plan at all," she added, emphasizing the need for the government to get ahead of the issue with policies that anticipate the trajectory of the pandemic rather than being reactive.

Quebec restrictions

As three regions in Quebec get ready to face additional restrictions like the closure of bars and restaurants and a ban on gatherings in homes, Premier Doug Ford was asked why Ontario wasn't introducing stricter measures to tackle the surge in cases.

Ford said Quebec is "very different" than Ontario with a smaller population, more people with COVID-19 in hospital and less testing, before deferring to Williams.

Williams said local medical officers of health can impose further restrictions, but that the public health measures table is "looking at we could do to strategically address those hot spots and the hot spots in those hot spots" rather than "a broad sweep" of measures.

Liberal leader Steven Del Duca suggested that the government look at additional restrictions on bars, reasoning that social sites are particularly high-risk as the virus spreads.

Rapid COVID-19 tests 

Ford said a new rapid COVID-19 test that the federal government plans to purchase is "an absolute game-changer."

The federal government announced on Tuesday that it had signed a deal with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC to buy 7.9 million rapid point-of-care tests, pending Health Canada approval.

The Abbott "ID NOW" tests involve a nasal swab and would be able to produce results between five to 13 minutes, according to a government press release.

The Ontario premier has on several occasions urged Health Canada to speed up its approval of rapid tests given the challenges — long lines and a processing backlog — facing the province's testing network.

"People are going to be able to go to additional pharmacies, different locations that have the testing equipment and get answers within minutes rather than within days," said Ford, adding that he's received assurances from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland that Health Canada is "working around the clock" to approve such tests.

What about Thanksgiving?

As Thanksgiving approaches, Ontarians are likely wondering whether or not they should make plans for the holiday given that the country is still combatting a pandemic.

Williams said the public health measures table is looking into recommendations for Thanksgiving and that further advice should be coming out "shortly."

But he did suggest that large gatherings will be out of the question.

"We’re asking people to get tight again on their social bubbles, their circles, in that manner and also then to say if you’re going to have a Thanksgiving where you would like to have a very large extended group into your location, we may be asking that you would limit that and that you would keep it at especially with those that are part of your household and family and others," he said.

Green leader Mike Schreiner expressed misgivings about turkey day. "I am deeply worried about university and college students potentially going home," the Guelph MPP said, pointing out that they could unwittingly spread the virus to older and thus higher-risk relatives.

Last week Prime Minister Trudeau offered a sober assessment of what Thanksgiving might look like given the current state of the pandemic, saying, "It's all too likely we won't be gathering for Thanksgiving, but we still have a shot at Christmas."

And Williams was sure about one piece of public health concerning the upcoming holiday.

"We always have our standard message around Thanksgiving, because we have to emphasize to cook the turkey well, because we do have other outbreaks at this time, usually salmonella," he said. "And so we ask people to be careful and manage their proper procedures of handling, cooking and preparation and serving. So there's more to it than COVID. But COVID is a big thing."