Hospitals warn of second lockdown as Ontario COVID-19 numbers continue to jump

TORONTO — Increasing COVID-19 case rates could plunge Ontario into another lockdown, the head of the province's hospital association warned as the government reported a case spike for the fourth consecutive day.

TORONTO — Increasing COVID-19 case rates could plunge Ontario into another lockdown, the head of the province's hospital association warned as the government reported a case spike for the fourth consecutive day.

Ontario Hospital Association president Anthony Dale said that infection rate increases in Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa could spread to the rest of the province if people don't respect public health guidelines.

Some Ontario residents have been lulled into a false sense of security and they must practise physical distancing, wear masks when required, and neither host nor attend unsafe gatherings and parties, he said.

"If current trends continue to accelerate, economic restrictions may tighten once more, and the school year for our children will be in jeopardy," Dale said in a statement. 

His statement comes as Ontario's new case count increased for the fourth consecutive day, with 313 cases reported today along with one new death from the virus.

Dale said he was making the request on behalf of the province's hospital staff who are the anchor of Ontario's pandemic response.

"We implore the people of Ontario to strictly adhere to the public health measures that helped bring wave one under control and allowed Ontario to re-open its economy," he said. 

The total number of cases in Ontario now stands at 44,817, which includes 2,816 deaths and 39,974 cases classified as resolved.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said that nearly 80 per cent of Ontario's cases are from three regions.

She said Toronto is reporting 112 cases, 71 in Peel and 60 in Ottawa.

Elliott said that almost 70 per cent of today’s cases are in people under the age of 40.

Ontario reported two new cases of COVID-19 in schools, one in Mississauga and one in Pembroke, Ont., according to the government's website.

Four school boards also reported new cases of the novel coronavirus not posted on the government page. Halton District School Board had two new cases, according to its COVID-19 advisory page.

Meanwhile, Ontario's legislature returns to Queen's Park for its fall session on Monday, but with the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting daily life, the Progressive Conservative government's house leader said it will not be business as usual.

Paul Calandra said the legislature will continue to respect public health rules while returning to its regular four-day-a-week schedule for proceedings.

He said the government will be focused in the coming weeks on the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy, school reopenings, and the health-care system.

Calandra says Ontario's 2020-2021 budget — which was delayed by the pandemic — will be delivered on Nov. 15.

The government is also expected to table a formal report on the state of emergency declared by the province earlier this year in response to the pandemic.

Calandra said the government is also leaving itself leeway in the legislative schedule in case it needs to introduce additional legislation to address COVID-19 this fall.

"We're seeing the (COVID-19 case) numbers are creeping up so if we get into a second wave, we want to be able to react quickly," Calandra said in an interview. "Should time be needed on the legislative schedule to pass bills, we're building that in."

In March, the Progressive Conservative government said its deficit would reach $20.5 billion by the end of 2020-2021. But in August, Finance Minister Rod Phillips said that due to billions more in spending required by the ongoing pandemic, the number is set to reach $38.5 billion.

Calandra said the government will ensure the health-care system gets needed funding and that small and medium-sized businesses also receive support this fall.

"Even for hard-core fiscal conservatives like me, we know that this is a time when you make investments for people ... but at the same time, you fix those areas that you can fix and improve your response," he said. "So, I think you'll start to see a lot more of that."

NDP legislator Marit Stiles said the official Opposition will focus on pressing the government for smaller class sizes, overhauling long-term care, and job creation.

"Returning to normal is just not going to be good enough," Stiles said. "This pandemic has shown where we have these giant gaps, whether it's in long-term care or education or those folks who have low wages, unstable jobs." 

While politicians will return to the legislature Monday until the house rises again in December, the building remains closed to the public. Visitors will not be permitted in the spectator galleries of the house because of the pandemic. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2020.

Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian Press