Ontario Premier slams US “reckless” approach to pandemic
TORONTO — Ontario (Canada)Premier Doug Ford said this week that Ontario is so much “better prepared” for a potential second wave of COVID-19 as he once again compared his government’s novel coronavirus response to the “reckless” approach south of the border.
“It’s been reckless down there, that’s the only way I can describe it, they’ve been reckless, they’ve moved forward too quickly,” Ford said, speaking at a news conference. “I’ll always listen to health and science over getting pressure from anyone.”
The comments come as Ford was discussing a possible second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario, which he says his health team is looking in to, with plans to release a strategy on the issue “shortly.”
“Right now, we are doing great as a province. We see the decline in cases, I know I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, they showed me this map of North America with all large jurisdictions like Ontario and we’re ranked number one, way ahead of everyone in North America.” reports CTV
Most businesses in Ontario outside of Toronto will reopen Friday following a gradual three-phase plan.
Last week, Ford said he had spoken to a doctor who informed him that the second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario would begin as soon as he opened up the border to international travel.
The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Ontario on a daily basis has been trending downward in recent weeks, while some areas south of the border like Florida, once a prime destination for Canadian vacationers, are experiencing a massive surge.
The spikes come after these states and a few others moved quickly to reopen following weeks of closure as a result of COVID-19, an approach Ford says Ontario will not follow.
And that shouldn’t be an issue until at least later this summer as Canadian and U.S. officials have agreed to keep the border between the two countries closed to non-essential travel until at least August 21.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the Americans, I just don’t want them up here right now.”
