Ontario has just declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19
- Robert Cekan
- 17 Mar 2020
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the province.
“We’re facing an unprecedented time in our history. This is a decision that was not made lightly,” Ford said at a Tuesday morning news conference at Queen’s Park.
Attorney General Sylvia Jones announced Tuesday that she will be invoking the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to enforce orders such as a ban on all organized gatherings over 50 people.
With these powers, effective immediately all the following establishments are closed until March 31st: recreation centres, libraries, private schools, licenced childcare centres, all bars & restaurants (except to the extent such facilities provide take-out food and delivery), all theatres (live and cinema), and concert venues.
The order does not yet apply to public transit, shopping malls, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
Ford stressed that the state of emergency does not constitute a “provincial shutdown.”
“The vast majority of businesses, including those most vital to day-to-day life, will not be affected by this order,” he said.
At the news conference, Ford also announced that $300 million will be used to add 75 critical-care beds and 500 post-acute care beds at Ontario hospitals. Some of the funds will go to establishing 25 more COVID-19 dedicated assessment centres in the province.
As of Monday evening, there were 177 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario. Five of these cases are considered resolved.
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