We’re taking a “balanced approach” to COVID-19: Premier Ford

Premier Doug Ford says shutting down the province to get COVID-19 numbers under control would be “the easy thing to do.”

Ford made that comment while in Hamilton on Thursday, announcing a new shipbuilding deal.

Doctors in the province have called for changes to the province’s new colour-coded COVID-19 restrictions as the province continues to report a record number of cases.

In a statement, the Ontario Medical Association says its doctors say the thresholds determining restrictions should be “much lower, in some cases 50 percent lower.”

“We strongly recommend locations in the “restrict” (orange) and “control’ (red) categories should close bars and indoor dining altogether.”

Ford says the framework was approved by Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams.

Ford doubles down on the new framework and says it allows transparency, and that it was given by Dr. Williams and his team and they are going forward with it…but are open to changing it…nothing is concrete during the pandemic

— Phil Perkins (@PhilPerkinsCHCH) November 12, 2020

He called a Toronto Star story, which says the government ignored advice when setting the threshold for restrictions “inaccurate.”

NDP leader Andrea Horwath revealed her own plan to get the virus under control.

She would put the province’s hotspots into modified Stage 1 for two weeks.

“Doug Ford is cancelling public health protections too fast. He’s putting people’s lives and health at risk under the false pretense that it helps businesses,” she said.

Under her plan, hospitals would remain open along with schools, with classes capped at 15 students.

Restaurants and bars would open only for takeout and delivery and the government would pay to support struggling and non-essential businesses in that time.

“That’s her perspective,” said Premier Ford when asked about Horwath’s plan.

“We’re taking a more balanced approach.”

Ford did say he is  open to changing the framework as things change and continued calling on residents to “do their part” and follow public health guidelines.