Ontario's doctors are calling for every region in the province to go back one stage in the government's colour-coded pandemic framework to stop the worrying increase in COVID-19.
The Ontario Medical Association expressed concern about the spread of COVID and the increase in hospitalizations, especially to intensive care units
The OMA recommends that regions not be allowed to return to less restrictive parts of the framework until there are fewer than 1,000 new cases per day.
The OMA expects the number of COVID cases and ICU admissions will rise for another two weeks and then level out for two weeks after that before dropping again.
"I know how hard it is to even think this, but we all need to take one step back," said OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill. "We have flattened the curve before and we will do it again. For now, every region in the province should go back one stage. We can reassess frequently. Today, Let's keep our eye on the long game. Vaccines are here. Summer is coming. I believe in Ontarians."
In a release, the OMA pointed out some troubling new facts including over 2,000 new COVID cases reported Monday for the fifth day in a row.
The OMA says more than 50 per cent of all new COVID cases are the variants, and more younger people are being infected and hospitalized.
"Ontario's doctors are troubled by the steadily increasing spread of COVID and its variants," said OMA CEO Allan O'Dette. "Action needs to be taken now to get the Third Wave under control and save lives. We are asking all Ontarians to exercise an abundance of care and caution to stop the thread."
