Ford locks down province amid rising numbers

Effective Boxing Day

By Mark Ribble

ONTARIO — Premier Doug Ford made a much-anticipated announcement on Monday to put the province into a temporary shutdown effective at 12:01 am on December 26.

With Windsor-Essex already in the Grey: Lockdown status for the past 10 days, this decision hurls Chatham-Kent and other ‘low-number’ regions into the same measures.

For restaurant diners, this means you will only be able to buy takeout food. There will be no inside or outside dining allowed.

Discount and big box retailers selling groceries will be limited to 25 per cent capacity for in-store shopping. Supermarkets, grocery stores and similar stores that primarily sell food, as well as pharmacies, will continue to operate at 50 per cent capacity for in-store shopping.

Expect lineups outside.

Other retail stores can offer curbside pick-up only. “COVID is spreading rapidly across this province,” Ford said. “Normally, 75 per cent of our ICU beds are being used by heart attack patients, car accident victims and people with other health issues. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for COVID patients.”

With thousands of backlogged surgeries, the Ontario medical industry urged the Premier to take action before the system implodes from the pressure.

“I’m asking all Ontarians to stay home and only leave when necessary,” he said.

The measures include restricting indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with members of the same household (the people you live with). Individuals who live alone may consider having exclusive close contact with one other household.

With regard to schools, Ford announced that elementary students are now scheduled to start back with in-class schooling on January 11. High school students will learn remotely beginning on the 11th and will resume in-class learning on January 25.

Ford expressed cautious optimism that the vaccines arriving now in Ontario will eventually bring the numbers down, but cautioned that we need to do our part and remain vigilant.

The shutdown will be in effect for 28 days in the south of the province and 14 in the north. The provincial health table will review numbers leading up to those dates.

“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do,” said Ford. “Just give it a little bit longer.”

Ford also announced a new Small Business Support Grant, where small businesses can get $10,000 to $20,000 to help them through the second wave.