Ontario meets vaccine targets to enter Step 3 weeks ahead of schedule
Ontario has met the vaccination thresholds required to enter the third and final step of the economic reopening weeks ahead of schedule.
The provincial government’s "roadmap to reopen" highlighted vaccination rates as the key benchmark to open additional portions of the economy, in conjunction with declining hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and positivity rates – targets that been exceeded in recent days.
In order to initiate Step 3, the province would need 70 to 80 per cent of the adult population vaccinated with a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a quarter of the adult population would require two doses.
Currently, 76 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and above have received their primary dose, while 25 per cent of the adult population has been fully vaccinated.
The province, however, is still in the first step of the reopening plan and top cabinet ministers are offering vague suggestions about whether the next steps will be sped up.
“All considerations [are] under active discussion,” said Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy on Tuesday when asked whether the cabinet is looking at fast tracking the reopening.
The province has said it will wait at least 21 days before moving into the next phase of reopening in order to analyze trends and determine the impact of each step on hospitalizations and case counts.
Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said the province is actively monitoring the pandemic’s trends to allow for a safe reopening and cabinet ministers are having “ongoing daily conversations” with public health officials about those targets.
“I couldn’t be happier if we could open sooner, but I also want to do it safety and we’re doing that under the advice and guidance of the Chief Medical Officer of Health,” Jones said.
“As soon as we’re able to share with businesses and the people of Ontario, we will do that.”
The second step, which would allow for personal care services, live music events, outdoor amusement parks and small indoor gatherings, is slated to begin on July 2.
The roadmap document states the province would need to wait another three weeks before moving to Step 3, when indoor activities including dining, sports, casinos, events and gatherings would be allowed.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said Tuesday the high vaccination rates could make it "much easier" for the province to look at a truncated timeline for the economic reopening.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions as Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, left, listen in during a news conference at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Monday March 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
"I think there is the opportunity for those [timelines] to be shortened,” Tory said. "I want the city opened up again as soon it possibly can be safely done."
Toronto infectious diseases expert Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti also said Tuesday that Ontario should "absolutely" speed up the reopening timeline given the current vaccine numbers.
"(COVID-19) is not going to be able to explode like it did back when we had no vaccine, or very little vaccine, coverage," Chakrabarti said.
"I really think we need to start moving on. We should accelerate ... I think we have the ability at this point to open up and do so safely."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.
Woman, 18, killed by co-worker's vehicle on Highway 1 in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw police say an 18-year-old woman who was at work has died from injuries she sustained in a collision with a vehicle being driven by her co-worker last Thursday.