Premier Doug Ford is appealing to the public to follow public health guidelines, or the province-wide lockdown will be extended past the current January 23rd deadline.
This morning Ford said public health measures are the best protection Ontario has against the growing COVID-19 case count right now.
“Wear a mask and wash your hands often,” said Ford “These simple measures protect you and your loved ones. If these basic measures continue to be ignored, the consequences will be more dire. The shutdown won’t end at the end of January and we will have to look at more extreme measures.”
Ontario health officials reported on Friday the highest daily number of COVID-19 cases since the very beginning of the pandemic with 4,249, along with 26 deaths related to the virus.
Ford says vaccination efforts have also recently ramped up but adds we’re running out of doses quickly.
Ford is currently pressuring Ottawa to provide more. He says by the end of next week all of Ontario will be out of Pfizer vaccines.
Ontario has also inoculated more people against the virus than any other province in the country.
Testing stays high with 71,500 done over the last 24 hours.
But the current situation remains extremely troubling.
Ford says if public health advice isn’t followed, the situation is going to get out of hand.
“We’re in a desperate situation,” he said. “When you see the (new) modelling (next week) you will fall off your chair.”
The Premier says the current situation is the most serious we’ve been in since the start of the pandemic, with more outbreaks in congregate care and increased infection rates in children.
To watch today’s full Provincial address, see below.
Premier Ford, Minister Elliott, and Minister Lecce make an Announcement
Premier Ford, Minister Elliott, and Minister Lecce make an Announcement
Posted by FordNation on Friday, January 8, 2021
Ontarians need to hunker down right now and stay home. We need everyone to avoid gatherings with people outside your household.
If these basic measures continue to be ignored, the consequences will be more dire and we will have to look at more extreme measures. pic.twitter.com/7wuKFz09oL
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) January 8, 2021
"We're in a desperate situation. And when you see the modelling you'll fall off your chair," says Doug Ford when asked re possibility of more #COVID19 restrictions. "There will be further measures because this is getting out of control," the Ontario premier warns #onpoli #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/BziGxas98s
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) January 8, 2021