Statement from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health

The Government of Ontario continues to take decisive action to respond to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help contain its spread and to protect the public. This has involved some unprecedented measures, and I know many of you continue to undertake great efforts to protect your families, friends, neighbours, clients and patients, and communities. However, we must do more. Everyone has a role to play in reducing the risk of spreading COVID- 19 – there is no option for anyone to opt out. The lives of many Ontarians, especially our community’s most vulnerable citizens, is in your hands and will depend on your actions over the coming days and weeks. I strongly recommend you and other members of your household stay home except for essential reasons, such as to access health care services; shop for groceries; pick-up medication at the pharmacy; walk pets when required; and support vulnerable community members with meeting the above needs. To the fullest extent possible, you should also limit the number of these essential trips. However, when you are out in public, you must adhere to physical distancing by reducing your exposure to other people outside of your household by keeping two metres from other people. Given the greater risk of severe outcomes to Ontarians who are elderly, I am also strongly recommending that individuals over 70 years of age selfisolate. This means only leaving home or seeing other people for essential reasons. Where possible, you should seek services over the phone or internet or ask for help from friends, family or neighbours with essential errands. This also applies to individuals who have compromised immune systems and/or underlying medical conditions. As we have been saying repeatedly, it is critically important to wash your hands regularly (or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available), practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette, and avoid direct contact when greeting people. In addition, as previously communicated and mandated by the federal government, all individuals who are returning from travel outside of Canada must selfisolate for 14 days when they return. You must not go to work, grocery stores or on walks. You should also monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days after returning and contact your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario (1- 866-797-0000) if you experience