Reopening in Ontario may be too soon because of variants, Barrie, Ont. mayor says
The Canadian Press | Posted: February 15, 2021 9:34 PM | Last Updated: February 15, 2021
Mayor Jeff Lehman says he's concerned after variant devastated local long-term care home
The mayor of a community that was hit hard by a COVID-19 variant outbreak is urging people to continue following public health measures when a stay-at-home order lifts for most of the province on Tuesday.
Barrie, Ont., Mayor Jeff Lehman says his city has seen how quickly more contagious variants can spread and he's concerned government's economic reopening is coming too soon.
An outbreak involving the COVID-19 variant first identified in the U.K. has led to the deaths of 70 residents at the Roberta Place long-term care home in Barrie.
The province has seen cases decrease in the last few weeks but Lehman says the government must move swiftly to reimpose strict public health measures, including lockdowns, if cases spike.
Pandemic measures will loosen tomorrow in 27 Ontario health units as they move back into the province's tiered restrictions system.
The plan has been criticized in light of projections showing a likely third wave of COVID-19 in the near future if strict measures aren't in place.