Ontario’s reopening framework was created without adequate input from healthcare professionals: health expert
Posted November 12, 2020 8:02 am.
Last Updated November 12, 2020 11:58 am.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly said he’s listening to the experts when it comes to imposing restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19.
But those experts are now saying the government ignored their advice when it created the new colour-coded system for pandemic measures.
It appears the Ford government ploughed ahead with its new colour-coded framework without full public health consultation.
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The Toronto Star reports advice from Public Health Ontario executives on the criteria, with the strictest levels short of a full lockdown, was ignored. Instead of the recommended COVID-19 test positivity rate of 2.5 per cent for that measure, the province went with 10 per cent.
That move has triggered criticism from health professionals, including ICU physician Dr. Michael Warner, who reacted online.
“It’s now clear that Ontario’s reopening framework was created without adequate input from healthcare professionals, public health experts, or scientists,” Warner said.
Ontario’s COVID-19 modelling consensus table also said it wasn’t consulted on the plan at all.
Health Minister Christine Elliott has responded to the backlash, insisting the system had full input from all the province experts.
“Our framework is focused on introducing preventative measures earlier to help limit the spread of COVID-19,” Elliott said. “In fact, the framework moved 10 public health unit regions into Protect (yellow), which puts stricter public health measures in place in these regions to protect Ontarians and help limit the spread of COVID-19.”
“It’s important to note that this framework has only been operational for a week – it’s not yet in place in Toronto, which remains in Modified Stage 2,” she added.
The groups also told the Toronto Star that the framework’s controls are not sufficient to contain the spread of the virus, putting the healthcare system and vulnerable communities, at risk.
