A decision to issue a stay-at-home order across Ontario is fueled by rising cases of the UK and other variants.
The government says action is needed to control potential outbreaks.
The UK variant has appeared in a handful of cases in the Northwestern Health Unit area in recent weeks.
Greg Rickford, the MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, says he understands the frustration of local residents having to stay home despite low COVID numbers but stresses it’s something that had to be done.
He calls it an evolution, and a work in progress against not just one variant but a quick spread of the UK variant and now the harsh realities of a Brazilian variant.
“Both of those have proved to be far more contagious and frankly far more morbid, especially amongst younger populations. We made a decision to go in on this altogether because frankly, we’re a little bit more compromised up here,” says Rickford.
“We don’t have the complementive intensive unit care beds. If even one or two people get sick out here, we have to transport them somewhere. Right now, we can’t transport to Winnipeg or Thunder Bay unless it’s ‘life or limb.’ So where else can you send those compromised patients.”
The Minister of Northern Development says this is as much about contingency and trying to see where they are headed than reacting.
Rickford says the good news is vaccinations are advancing quite quickly. He’s hopeful the government won’t have to consider this action again.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says the hospitalizations that are happening because of these variants are taking over our hospitals.
She stresses this isn’t just a Greater Toronto Area issue.
“We know that even in Kenora. If they have someone that needs to go to another hospital, they only have four intensive care beds. They can not send anybody to Thunder Bay or to Winnipeg. So this is a situation that is happening across the entire province,” says Elliott.
Patients in several southern Ontario jurisdictions are being moved to other hospitals because of overcapacity issues. Elliott says strong action is needed.
“So that we can care for the people who are coming into hospital with COVID but also people who may be involved in a significant car accident or people who have heart attacks. We need to make sure that we have the capacity to care for people that need intensive care, stabilization and care.”
The province has also cancelled most non-urgent surgeries and procedures.
