Article content
Despite improving case counts and rising vaccination numbers, experts are warning the Ontario government against reopening the province’s pandemic-battered economy too quickly, saying preventing a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections requires continued vigilance and patience and, potentially, changes to the tiered reopening framework.
However, Doug Manuel, senior scientist with The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s clinical epidemiology program, says Ottawa itself is in good shape with daily new case counts falling steadily since reaching record highs earlier this spring. If the city stays on this trajectory, parts of its economy could safely reopen once the province-wide stay-at-home expires May 20, he said.
Ottawans report long waits to score appointments as province opens booking site to adults in designated hot spots Some reported hours-long waits and frustrating crashes as tens of thousands of people across Ontario likely even more spent the morning hours securing their spots.
Author of the article: Marco Vigliotti, Blair Crawford
Publishing date: May 03, 2021 • May 3, 2021 • 5 minute read • Asif Hameed poses for a photo outside his home in Ottawa Monday. Asif is a Carleton PhD student who managed to book his vaccine for Friday after a 2.5 hour wait online. There were 117,000 people ahead of him. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Article content
Article content
Only three city councillors have asked that parks in their wards close early under a new policy aimed at preventing large gatherings during the provincial stay-at-home order, according to a poll of council members conducted by this newspaper.
Coun. Jan Harder has ordered all parks in her Barrhaven ward to close at 9 p.m., while Carol Anne Meehan has requested the same in her neighbouring ward of Gloucester-South Nepean, their offices and city staff confirmed. Meanwhile, Eli El-Chantiry has only requested that Sheila McKee Park in his West Carleton-March ward close early.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.