By Jessica Smith Cross and Sneh Duggal
The Ford government released the first pillar of its fall preparedness plan Tuesday, underwhelming opposition politicians and some experts who have been calling for stronger, faster action to combat the growing second wave of COVID-19.
The first part of the plan is an annual flu shot campaign.
Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott announced Ontario is ordering 5.1 million flu vaccine doses, approximately 700,000 more than were used last year, including 1.3 million high-dose vaccine doses for Ontario seniors. This year, seniors will be able to get the high-dose shots at pharmacies, rather than having to visit their primary care provider.
There will also be a public awareness campaign. Both Ford and Elliott pitched getting the flu shot as a way to relieve some burden from the health-care system.
"There's no excuses," said Ford. "We all have to do our part and help our frontline heroes by getting our flu shot."
The vaccine will be available in the coming weeks, they said.
The flu shot announcement is only one of the plan's six pillars — and Ford and Elliott said they are rolling the plan out bit-by-bit so that people aren't overwhelmed by it.
"Given the size and the scope of this plan, we will take the next few days to walk through it," said Ford. "So each and every person understands how we're putting their health and safety first over the coming months."
The other five pillars, per a government press release, are:
- Maintain strong public health measures, including the continued expansion of testing and case and contact management;
- Quickly identify, manage and prevent COVID-19 outbreaks;
- Accelerate efforts to reduce health service backlogs;
- Prepare for surges in COVID-19 cases;
- Recruit, retain, train and support health-care workers, while also continuing to engage families and caregivers.
The announcement wasn't what some expected.
Geratrician Dr. Nathan Stall, whose work on COVID-19 in long-term care has informed provincial policy and been cited by the minister, said he and other researchers and experts had expected something more substantial.
"We're totally baffled by what we're witnessing in terms of the severe inaction that is occurring in our province right now," he said.
"I actually, truly anticipated a real announcement about restrictions on society, whether it be in things like indoor dining, or closing large banquet halls, or further limiting gatherings because there are enough warning signs that things are really, really headed south and this seemed to just be a delay tactic, really."
Stall said the rationale that the plan was being slowly rolled out because it would be too much all at once "did not seem genuine" and questioned leading with the vaccination announcement when the flu shots aren't available yet. He also said that while getting the flu shot is very important, there is evidence showing that the impact of the flu has been lower than usual this year.
Today #Ontario reported 478 cases of #COVID19—many are imploring the government to take action. @fordnation's plan? A massive influenza immunization campaign and keep the rest a secret.
BTW...influenza has largely disappeared in the southern hemisphere: https://t.co/R2DKHthHh8 pic.twitter.com/CJpb9Kzraa
— Nathan Stall (@NathanStall) September 22, 2020
Meanwhile, the opposition continued to accuse the government of having no real plan.
"Let's be clear," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath at a press conference. "If the Ford government second wave plan is in place now, then their plan is not working."
She said the government is offering no help for the parents who can't access testing for their children because of long lines, for those worried about loved ones in long-term care and those waiting for surgeries that were cancelled in the first wave.
Before the flu shot announcement, Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said he has "grave concerns about the competence of the government" when it comes to handling a second wave of COVID-19.
He said the plan needs to include the capacity to do rapid testing in large numbers, give real protection to long-term care and have contingencies in place.
"And there really is no excuse — when we ultimately see Doug Ford's plan — for any of those things being missing, should they be missing, because they've literally had more than six months to prepare for ... what they all knew was going to be taking place," he said.
Green Leader Mike Schreiner had similar comments.
"I'm just shocked and disappointed the government doesn't have a plan, a comprehensive plan that's ready to roll out to be transparent and fully communicated with the people of Ontario," he said.
COVID-19 cases surge again
Ontario saw another jump in COVID-19 cases, with the 478 new cases being the highest daily increase since May. This follows concern over a recent surge in cases across the province, which led the Ontario government to tighten social gathering limits first in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa and then across the entire province.
The last time the province saw such a high daily case count was in May when 477 cases were reported on May 8 and 511 on May 2 — that was before Ontario entered stage one of reopening on May 19. It was only in stage two, which came weeks later, that restaurants were allowed to have outdoor dine-in options and malls were permitted to reopen.
There were also three deaths reported on Tuesday. Of the 478 new cases, 153 were in Toronto, 95 in Peel and 90 in Ottawa.
Elliott wouldn't say what further restrictions the province might consider given the recent surge. She highlighted the moves already taken by the province including a four-week pause on further reopening and reducing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors.
"We are we are receiving daily reports about the outbreaks that are happening in different parts of the province, we have our eyes closely monitoring all of that," she said. "There are several opportunities that may be available in the future, other steps we may have to take, we don’t have anything specific that we’re prepared to move on right now."
There were also 51 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ontario schools — 26 students, seven staff members and 18 more who were not identified. The province has reported a total of 141 cases at 116, or 2.4 per cent, of schools — this is out of 4,828 publicly-funded schools included in the count.
While the province has indicated that two schools have been closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks, it doesn't identify which ones on its new website tracking the coronavirus in schools. The Renfrew County and District Health Unit has ordered the closure of Fellowes High School in Pembroke and Monsignor Paul Baxter Catholic School in Ottawa is also closed.
Rinse, gargle, spit test coming to Ontario
Premier Ford and Elliott called for Health Canada to move quickly in approving other types of COVID-19 tests.
"It’s critical we get this rapid testing, it plays such a massive part in tackling this," said Ford, adding that he's been discussing the issue with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and that they're both pushing Health Canada on saliva testing.
"These are some of the things we do behind the scenes, we’re working together ... but again Health Canada, we have to get this moving forward," he said.
Elliott said while saliva testing isn't as accurate as the nasopharyngeal swab, it can be used for screening to determine whether someone needs to have a nasopharyngeal swab test done.
"Different tests can be used for different reasons, but again we are appealing to Health Canada to please move forward with this as quickly as possible," she said.
Meanwhile, British Columbia recently unveiled a new rinse, gargle and spit COVID-19 test for children, with Ford saying that the test is coming to Ontario.
"We’re bringing on board the B.C. tests, the ones that you see the kids are gargling with salt water; and it takes a little bit longer than the nasal swab, but still I think it’s important, at least it gives us an idea," said Ford.
"We’re rolling that in this week to three hospitals," he said, citing Women's College Hospital, the University Health Network and Sinai Health.
COVID-19 symptoms
Meanwhile B.C.'s Ministry of Health is removing several symptoms such as a sore throat or runny nose from its list of symptoms that parents are asked to screen their kids for each morning.
Asked whether Ontario would move in the same direction, Ford said the issue had come up, but passed the question over to Elliott after suggesting that it's common for kids to have runny noses.
Elliott didn't directly respond to the question. She said the chief medical officer of health and the province's public health measures table are in "active conversations" with the education ministry about symptoms.
"If they revise the symptoms list from time-to-time that’s to aid in the discovery of children with COVID and to make sure that they can be tested, traced and isolated, so that is something that will continue to go forward," she said.
Private COVID-19 testing
A company that calls itself "Home COVID-19 Private Diagnostics" has received attention in the legislature and on social media after offering private COVID-19 tests for a minimum of $399. The website states that the company "offers private, mobile, and reliable access to PCR COVID-19 testing at your home, business or office." While one test at home is listed at $399, additional tests at the same household are priced at $329, although the company notes additional travel costs could be applied.
This comes as Ontarians share stories of massive lineups at COVID-19 assessment centres in recent days, something the province has said it's tackling through the expected launch of COVID-19 testing at pharmacies.
Asked about the offering of private testing, Ford said, "I think it’s a free market society, but I encourage people to go to the testing centres," adding that several assessment centres have extended their hours and pop-up test sites are being used.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.