With the number of new COVID-19 cases trending downward many Ontarians were anticipating the lifting of the stay-at-home orders but with nine days to go until May 20 it’s likely that Ontario will extend the orders until June.
“The medical experts have been very clear that we need to stay the course right now,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said on Monday.
As of Monday 1,640 people are in hospital due to COVID-19. Of those, 848 are in the ICU. The number of news deaths Sunday almost doubled Saturday’s.
Health experts advise that remaining in lock down will ease pressure on hospitals and help prevent numbers from rising over the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend.
On Friday, the medical officers of health sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford asking that he extend the current orders. The letter stated:
“It is crystal clear that public health measures aimed at decreasing mobility and interpersonal contact are by far the most important tool we have currently to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Their effectiveness is not up for debate after three waves of declines and resurgences occurred in lockstep with the intensification and relaxation of restrictions. Any move to relax restrictions now would without a doubt reverse the modest downward trends we have observed over the past two weeks.”
Ford and his cabinet are expected to meet to discuss the orders and finalize a date.
The current stay-at-home order was implemented on April 8.
