Ontario extends emergency orders to protect public health as economy reopens

#OntarioGovt; #EmergencyOrdersExtended; 

Ottawa, Jul 12 (Canadian-Media): In consultation with Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government has extended on July 9 all emergency orders currently in force to July 22, 2020, to protect public health and safety as more businesses reopen and people go back to work, media reports said. 

Doug Ford. Image credit: Twitter handle

"By keeping these emergency measures in place, we will continue to support our frontline care providers, protect our most vulnerable, and ensure we can rapidly respond to potential outbreaks or surges," said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a news release.

The extension of the emergency orders will help protect vulnerable people, such as seniors, by allowing the redeployment of frontline staff in long-term care facilities, retirement homes and other congregate care settings, like women's shelters and residential services. 

In addition, the extension would allow public health units to redeploy or hire staff to support case management and contact tracing.

The government's intention of extending emergency orders to align with the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, if passed would address the ongoing threat of this deadly virus and protect Ontarians and allow ease of restrictions where appropriate.

The Government of Ontario declared a provincial emergency on March 17, 2020 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. The declaration of emergency was extended and is currently in effect until July 15, 2020.

The government brought forward a motion in the Ontario legislature that, if passed, would extend the provincial declaration of emergency until July 24, 2020.