COVID19 Relief Package Press Release from Daisy Wai MPP

In Lieu of Premier Ford’s press conference this morning announcing both the declaration of Ontario as in a State of Emergency and a COVID 19 Relief Package, here are the details capsulized in a press release -  from Daisy Wai MPP’s office :

•         COVID-19 constitutes a danger of major proportions and the health and well-being of every individual and family must be our number one priority.

•         We are taking this extraordinary measure because we must offer our full support and every power possible to help our health sector fight the spread of this virus.

•         The first order under this declaration will be the prohibition of organized public events of over 50 people, including parades and events and communal services within places of worship until March 31st.

•           Our government is also announcing the first stage of our COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package. This is over $304 million committed to supporting the fight against COVID-19.

In Lieu of Premier Ford’s Press Conference this morning, here is the first set of details regarding the government’s COVID19 Relief Package:

•           $100 million for increased capacity in hospitals to assist with the effective treatment of COVID-19 patients both in critical care and medicine beds.

•           $50 million for more testing and screening through public health, including additional funding to support extraordinary costs incurred to monitor, detect and contain COVID-19 in the province. This includes contact tracing, increased laboratory testing capacity and home testing.

•           $50 million to further protect frontline workers, first responders and patients by increasing the supply of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and equipment to protect them.

•           $25 million to support frontline workers working in COVID-19 assessment centres, including the creation of a new fund to provide respite care, child care services and other supports as they are needed.

•           $50 million for long-term care homes to support 24/7 screening, additional staffing to support infection control and one-time grants for homes for the increased cost of supplies.

•           $20 million for residential facilities in developmental services, gender-based services and protective care for children and youth to support additional staffing, respite for caregivers impacted by school closures, personal protective equipment and supplies and transportation costs to minimize client exposure and to support social distancing, as well as additional cleaning costs.

•           $5 million to protect seniors in retirement homes through increased infection control and active screening procedures.

•           $4 million for Indigenous communities to support transportation costs for health care professionals and the distribution of critical supplies.