A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR COVID-19

The Government of Ontario, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, will implement a new COVID-19 Response Framework and Support for Business plan.

It is a framework that takes a gradual approach that includes introducing preventative measures earlier to help avoid broader closures and allow for additional public health and workplace safety measures to be introduced or removed incrementally.

Categorized into five levels of Prevent, Protect, Restrict, Control, and finally, Lockdown, each outlines the types of public health and workplace safety measures required. Determination will be based on the epidemiology or level of community transmission, the health system capacity like ICU capacity, and the Public Health capacity meaning their ability to provide case and contact follow up within 24 hours.

At this time, Milton, and the rest of Halton Region, are deemed to be in the Protect level. Milton will therefore continue to abide by the current public health guidelines on public gathering limitations, while indoor dining may continue with gym facilities remaining open.

As our work continues to help keep our community, and others, safe, I was proud to join both MPP Crawford and MPP Triantifilopoulos to announce over $6.4 million for the creation of 52 new hospital beds for Halton Healthcare, of which, 12 are expected for the Milton District Hospital. Not only is this another strong step forward to ending hallway healthcare in our province, but it will provide greater access to care for those who need it.

Personal and public health measures such as physical distancing and wearing a mask remain critical – close contact is the highest risk for transmission of COVID-19. Please continue to make these measures, and others, a priority. Together, we will get through this.