Ontario’s Reopening Plan Details ‘Phased Approach’ But No Dates Set At This Time

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Premier Doug Ford has announced details of Ontario’s plan to reopen the province’s economy once it is safe to do so.

The province’s three-stage plan outlines the criteria Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will use to advise the government on the loosening of emergency measures.  Officials say the plan also provides details of an outreach strategy, led by the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee, to help inform the restart of the provincial economy.

Ford said the plan details “how” the economy will reopen, not “when” the economy will reopen. “I won’t set hard dates on when the province will reopen because the virus travels at its own speed,” he said.

“Our top priority remains protecting the health and safety of the people of Ontario and supporting our frontline heroes as we do everything in our power to contain and defeat this deadly virus,” said Ford. “At the same time, we are preparing for the responsible restart of our economy. This next phase of our response to COVID-19 is designed to help us map out what needs to be done, and when, to get us back on the road to recovery.”

The government’s plan is a stage-by-stage approach to reopening the economy to “ensure there are appropriate measures in place so workplaces can open safely.”

The government says there “will be two-to-four weeks between the launch of each stage to allow health officials to assess conditions before moving to the next one. This will determine if measures should be adjusted, loosened or tightened.”

The government summarized the three reopening stages in a statement released to the media:

• Stage 1: For businesses that were ordered to close or restrict operations, opening select workplaces that can immediately modify operations to meet public health guidance. Opening some outdoor spaces like parks and allowing for a greater number of individuals to attend some events. Hospitals would also begin to offer some non-urgent and scheduled surgeries, and other health care services.
• Stage 2: Opening more workplaces, based on risk assessments, which may include some service industries and additional office and retail workplaces. Some larger public gatherings would be allowed, and more outdoor spaces would open.
• Stage 3: Opening of all workplaces responsibly and further relaxing of restrictions on public gatherings.

Throughout each stage, the province says continued protections for vulnerable populations will be in place, along with the “continued practice of physical distancing, hand washing and respiratory hygiene, and significant mitigation plans to limit health risks.”

To reopen the economy, the government says they will consider factors such as the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and the ability to implement protective measures to keep workplaces safe. The province says the Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will provide advice to the government about easing public health measures using a range of set criteria, including:

• A consistent two-to-four week decrease in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases;
• Sufficient acute and critical care capacity, including access to ventilators and ongoing availability of personal protective equipment;
• Approximately 90 per cent of new COVID-19 contacts are being reached by local public health officials within one day, with guidance and direction to contain community spread; and
• Ongoing testing of suspected COVID-19 cases, especially of vulnerable populations, to detect new outbreaks quickly.

“It is because of the collective efforts of all Ontarians to stay at home and stop the spread of COVID-19 that we are able to consider plans to move into the next phase of our battle against this virus,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The Chief Medical Officer of Health has outlined some criteria he will use to advise government on when we may begin to slowly and safely ease public health measures and restart our economy. To be able to do so, w e need everyone to continue their extraordinary efforts so that we can meet these thresholds and begin to move forward.”

The province says a new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee will be consulting with various business to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the provincial economy and develop a plan to move forward. The government says they’ll be leading discussions with “business associations, chambers of commerce, municipal leaders, the postsecondary sector, corporate leaders, small business owners, community and social service providers, Indigenous partners, Franco-Ontarians, entrepreneurs and others” as part of a new phase of Ontario’s “Action Plan”.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has had far-reaching economic impacts for businesses and communities across Ontario,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “In the face of these challenges, businesses and individuals have stepped up to support our frontline workers, produce essential equipment and keep our supply chains moving. Our plan to carefully and methodically reopen Ontario’s economy will ensure that businesses are supported on our path to renewed economic prosperity.”