Premier Doug Ford says we’ve reached the up slope of the second wave of COVID-19.
Ontario is reporting 700 new cases Monday, marking a new record for the most daily infections ever recorded in the province.
The previous record was 640 on April 24.
Ford says this will be “More complicated, more complex, it will be worse then the first wave we faced earlier this year. And we’ve all played a critical role to play. Please follow the health guidance. Please download the COVID alert ap. Please get your flu shot.”
He stresses our collective actions will decide if this will be a wave or a Tsunami.
Ford notes the time is now to hunker down, refocus and take the steps needed to get back on track.
According to the provincial report, 344 new cases were recorded in Toronto, 104 in Peel Region, 89 in Ottawa and 56 in York Region.
Ford says the provincial health team continues to look at its options and everything is on the table including an Ontario Hospital Association call to move those areas back to Stage 2 in reopening.
Meantime, the government is investing $52.5-million to recruit, retain and support over 3,700 more frontline health care workers and caregivers.
Ford says this will ensure our health care system can meet any surge in demand.
Here is a breakdown of funding
An additional $26.3 million to support personal support workers (PSWs) and supportive care workers, including:
-$14 million for the Personal Support Worker training funds to continue training PSWs in the home and community care and long-term care sectors;
-$10.3 million for the new Personal Support Worker Return of Service Program, to recruit and retain recent graduates to work in long-term care homes and in the home and community care sectors. This program will provide -A $5,000 incentive to 2,000 recent graduates for a six-month commitment to work in these settings;
-$1.3 million to train 160 supportive care workers to provide basic home support services; and
-$700,000 in accelerated PSW training for 220 students with prior health experience to practice in Ontario.
An additional $26 million to support nurses, including:
-$18 million for Ontario’s Nursing Graduate Guarantee program, which provides full-time salary and benefits for over 600 nurses with a focus on recruiting in areas of need such as long-term care homes and acute care settings; and
-Up to $8 million to add over 800 nurses to the health system in areas of need across the province.
The province is supporting frontline workers, families and caregivers by:
-Investing $200,000 to improve the matching algorithm for the Ontario Matching Portal, which will enable employers to get faster matches that best meet their needs;
-Expanding training, tools and resources available to frontline workers across the social services sector; and
-Continuing to update visitor policies for congregate care settings, including long-term care, that promote family and caregiver involvement to support better care and reduce isolation.