Ford says he supports frequent COVID-19 tests for health-care workers who don't get vaccinated
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that he supports compulsory COVID-19 testing for health-care workers who refuse to get vaccinated, though he stopped short of saying the province would implement such a measure.
“I do,” Ford said when asked by reporters if he supports the move. “And I have a great deal of respect for Kevin Smith – he’s the CEO of UHN (University Health Network)… he's doing the right thing.”
Toronto’s University Health Network confirmed last week that it will soon require staff who have not been vaccinated to present a negative COVID-19 test from within 48 hours before reporting for work.
While Ford said Monday that he supports hospitals requiring negative COVID-19 tests for unvaccinated workers, he said the province will not dictate to hospitals whether they should implement the policy.
Ford also reiterated Monday that he will not force health-care workers to get vaccinated, despite calls from some medical experts to do so.
“I just don't believe in forcing anyone to get a vaccination that doesn't want it,” Ford said following a funding announcement outside The Ottawa Hospital. “I'm up here, literally preaching begging, pleading, every single day since the beginning of this pandemic, especially since we we've had these vaccinations. So folks, if you're in the health-care industry, please just go and get a vaccination.”
Ford said vaccination is the tool allowing the province to reopen safely and urged anyone who has hesitations about getting a COVID-19 shot to speak with a doctor or pharmacist.
“You might be hesitant. Think of your loved ones. Think of your children, think of your parents, think of your friends, your co workers. It's absolutely critical,” Ford said.
The premier pointed out that around 90 per cent of health care workers have been vaccinated and said he is “excited” that Ontario is close to crossing the threshold of 80 per cent of the population having received a first dose.
As of Monday, 79.7 per cent of those 12 and over in Ontario have had at least one vaccine shot, while 66.15 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kieran Moore has said the province should aim for around 90 per cent of the population to be fully vaccinated in order to get community-level protection against the more infectious Delta variant, first detected in India.
The pace of vaccinations has slowed, however, as a greater share of the population have received their shots.
Yesterday Ontario gave out 65,920 COVID-19 vaccine doses, the lowest number of shots given in a day since May 3, when the province gave out 53,880 jabs.
70% OF TORONTO RESIDENTS NOW VACCINATED
Meanwhile officials in Toronto said Monday that 70 per cent of residents are now fully vaccinated against the virus, while more than 80 per cent of city residents have had at least one dose of a vaccine.
The city’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa hailed the milestone in a tweet.
“I couldn't be prouder of today's milestone & our rapid #vaccination progress, thanks to everyone who continues to step up and roll up their sleeve to protect themselves, those they love, & our city. Thank you for taking care of each other,” de Villa said.
Toronto public health has launched a push to try and reach even more people through call centres and social media campaigns, targeting areas with low vaccine uptake.
The city has also opened all nine of its mass vaccination clinics to walk-in appointments from noon to 7 p.m. each day.
A vaccination popup clinic at Mel Lastman Square over the weekend managed to give out 3,106 vaccine doses, including 674 first doses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.