Ontario-wide lockdown expected: Premier Ford to make announcement

Multiple reports are suggesting that Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford will announce a province-wide lockdown during his 1:00 p.m. briefing today.

CHCH News has been told that a final decision will be made in cabinet this morning. If the announcement is made, the lockdown is expected to start at 12:01 a.m. on Christmas Eve.

The premier has been hosting meetings all weekend with various health officials.

This lockdown would be similar to the previous one made during the first wave of COVID-19 in March. However, there is speculation that the southern regions of Ontario will remain on lockdown longer than the northern ones.

The reports also suggest the winter break for elementary and high school students could be extended for up to two weeks.

The city of Hamilton officially went into the grey-lockdown category of the Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework at 12:01 a.m. this morning. Halton, Niagara, and Brant are in the red-control category, and Haldimand-Norfolk is in the orange-restrict category.

CHCH News will broadcast and livestream that announcement when it happens and have the latest during the Evening News at 6:00 p.m.