Premier Doug Ford appears to have broken Ontario’s prescribed COVID-19 physical distancing measures, saying two of his daughters who live in different households visited his home over Mother’s Day weekend.
Premier Doug Ford appears to have broken Ontario’s prescribed COVID-19 physical distancing measures, saying two of his daughters who live in different households visited his home over Mother’s Day weekend.
Speaking to reporters at his daily briefing Monday, Ford said his family gathering was limited to six people, “direct family” only, with none of his daughters’ husbands or boyfriends present.
“I really trust the judgment of the people of Ontario. If you have an elderly mother or father, and their health isn’t great, I wouldn’t chance it,” Ford said.
“I’d keep with immediate family. That would be my recommendation. I wouldn’t get into the big gatherings. That just can’t happen. We want to keep it with immediate family just for a little bit longer.”
Ford made the comments just days after Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, expressed concern that some 55 per cent of new coronavirus infections are still being contracted through community spread.
Williams was asked Thursday if Ontarians could begin expanding their so-called physical bubble to include other households, as has been permitted in some other provinces, to which he replied:
“The key public health measure, as you recall, was the requirement for people to — except in the family unit or bubble — stay six feet away, ideally stay home, have very little interaction that would bring you in proximity of people closer than six feet. And that is still in place at this time.”
Ontario’s COVID-19 website continues to state: “Everyone in Ontario should practice physic