TORONTO — Ontario’s hospitals are calling for new and stricter lockdowns in hard-hit regions to halt the rapid spread of COVID-19.
The Ontario Hospital Association’s board of directors is making the request to the province after holding an emergency meeting to discuss hospital capacity issues amid surging infections.
It is asking the government to implement a four-week lockdown in every public health unit with an infection rate of 40/100,000 population or higher.
It says the move is necessary to protect people and ensure that hospitals do not face a surge in COVID-19 patients in January.
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The association says the province’s lockdown restrictions should also be “rapidly” reassessed by independent experts to determine if additional measures are required.
It says the government should also offer paid sick leave and isolation accommodation to help those who cannot afford to take time off work if they contract the virus.
© 2020 The Canadian Press
