Canada’s Health Minister feels the province can fix some COVID-19 issues the Premier is blaming on the federal government.
Patty Hajdu say Doug Ford can tighten border restrictions if he believes it’s necessary.
“The Prime Minister’s been really clear with the Premier that if he wishes to decrease travel even more by eliminating particular categories of travellers such as, for example, international students or temporary foreign workers, that we are more than open to those conversations with the Premier, and he has not responded,” says Hajdu.
Hajdu also contradicts Ford’s claims that COVID-19 is spreading more because international travellers are not quarantining.
“Every traveller receives multiple phone calls, in-person visits, and of course sanctions are applied when there have been violations of quarantine,” notes Hajdu. “The province has the full authority to apply those sanctions, by the way. They can fine people, they can charge people, and the Premier knows that, whether it’s at the local police level or the Ontario Provincial Police level.”
She adds that quarantining of healthy travellers is “fully under control.”
“The question I think the Premier should ask is what supports he’s providing for people who are actually sick to quarantine properly, what supports is he providing to close contacts to make sure that they, too, are quarantining properly?” asks Hajdu.
Hajdu does praise the province for allowing outdoor exercise in its re-opening plan.
