Update:
In response to rising rates of COVID-19 across the province, the provincial government has announced thresholds for each level in the COVID-19 framework are being lowered.
This announcement comes after the latest modelling shows that if the number of new cases continues to grow at its current rate, the province could register up to 6,500 new cases per day by mid-December. Within the next two weeks the province will likely exceed its intensive care threshold of 150 beds, under any potential scenario.
Based on these new thresholds, the following public health unit regions would be moved to the following levels in the framework:
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Red-Control:
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Hamilton Public Health Services
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Halton Region Public Health
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Toronto Public Health
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York Region Public Health
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Orange-Restrict:
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Brant County Health Unit
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Durham Region Health Department
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Eastern Ontario Health Unit
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Niagara Region Public Health
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Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
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Region of Waterloo Public Health
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Yellow-Protect:
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Huron Perth Public Health
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Middlesex-London Health Unit
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Public Health Sudbury & Districts
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Southwestern Public Health
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Huron Perth Public Health
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Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
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Changes will come into effect as of Monday at 12:01 a.m.
Toronto Public Health will move into the framework on Saturday at 12:01 a.m.
For long-term care homes, visitor restrictions will apply to public health regions within the Orange-Restrict and Red-Control levels in the framework. This will go into effect on Monday as well.
Assignments to the current levels would last for a minimum of 28 days or two-incubation periods, at which time the status of these public health unit regions will be reassessed on a weekly basis. However, movement to a more restrictive zone will be considered sooner if there are rapidly worsening trends.
Original story:
Premier Doug Ford is slated to make a COVID-19-related announcement at 2:30 p.m. at Queen's Park this afternoon.
Today's announcement will follow a cabinet meeting with Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams. The meeting comes in the wake of the release of new modelling that suggests the province could see 6,500 new daily cases of COVID-19 by mid-December without new restrictions to spread the virus.
It is possible Ford will move some public health units, such as Toronto and Peel, into different categories within the province's tiered framework for COVID-19.
Ford will be joined by Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Dr. David Williams, for today's media conference.
Village Media will carry the livestream, so stay tuned.