In response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases both in Canada and internationally, the Ontario government has launched a response strategy to contain the outbreak.

In addition to this, the government has announced $100 million to be funded towards containment efforts. This will mainly go towards increasing medial supplies, such as test kits and personal protective equipment.

Currently, the provincial government is in its containment stage but Minister of Health Christine Elliot has noted that the government will likely advance to its next phase, community spread, of its response efforts at some point.

The federal government has also announced a one billion dollar funding package to fight the spread of the virus, half of which will be going to provinces and territories.

Highlights of the government’s response is below:

• A one-time 10% increase of mitigation funding for an additional calendar year 

  • This would keep municipal funding levels for public health units in the 2021 calendar year the same level as 2020

• A Command Table to finalize the implementation of measures to ensure the province is prepared to respond quickly and effectively 

  • The table is an oversight body providing executive leadership and strategic direction to guide the provincial response

  • The table is to report to the Minister of Health and consists of the Deputy Minister of Health, representatives from Public Health Ontario, the Ministry of Long-Term Care, and Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and health officials such as the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the province’s Health President

• Establish assessment centres in areas experiencing significant growth in testing

  • This includes: William Osler Health System – Peel Memorial site, the Ottawa Hospital, North York General Hospital, Mackenzie Health, Scarborough Health Network, and Trillium Health Partners

  • Additional centres will be established in the coming weeks

• New physician billing codes for telephone assessments instead of doctors assessing in their clinics

• A self-assessment tool will be launched on the government’s COVID-19 webpage

• Plans to enhance to enhance laboratory testing capacity

• A province-wide public education campaign that will advise Ontarians on what actions they can take to keep themselves save

• Updated guidelines to long-term care homes have been issued to ensure active screening for all staff, volunteers, family members, and new and returning residents.

For more information, please see below:

Ontario Newsroom: Province Implementing Enhanced Measures to Protect Ontarians from COVID-19

Government of Ontario: The 2019 Novel Coronavius (COVID-19)

Poster: What you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy

AMCTO: PM Trudeau Announces $1 Billion Fund to Prevent Spread of COVID-19