Lockdown to begin for all of Ontario on Boxing Day as province sees soaring cases

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“Make no mistake, thousands of lives are at stake right now.”

Hours earlier, the province’s health advisors said the sooner a “hard lockdown” was implemented, the more new cases could be prevented.

“If we started on December 21, instead of December 28, it plays out significant reductions in cases under almost any scenario,” said Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the province’s COVID-19 science advisory table.

Brown added that anything less than a four-week lockdown will not work, based on the experience of other jurisdictions.

Ford defended the decision to wait until Dec. 26 to impose the restrictions, noting that hot spots are already in lockdown.

“We want to give the same opportunities to businesses that haven’t experienced lockdown before … (and) give them the opportunity to get ready to hunker down,” he said.

Toronto, Peel Region, York Region, Windsor-Essex, and Hamilton are already in lockdown.

Dr. Naveed Mohammad, CEO of the William Osler Health System that operates hospitals in Peel Region, said people needed to act as if the lockdown started immediately.

“Until the people of this province realize what each trip out their home risks for themselves and their loved ones, we won’t get through this,” he said, noting that hospitals in Brampton, Ont., are grappling with capacity issues.

“Please stay home, starting today.”

The Ontario Hospital Association, which had called for strict new restrictions, said it was disappointed the lockdown wouldn’t take effect sooner.