TORONTO – Ontario Liberal Leader, Steven Del Duca issued the following statement:
“I’m relieved to hear Ontario will mandate vaccinations for staff in nursing homes, but I cannot understand why it took so long and why the mandate doesn’t apply to all health care settings.
These mandates should be immediately extended to all types of elderly and home care, as well as hospitals and schools.
Twenty seven residents of Ontario long-term care facilities have died since we began calling for mandatory vaccinations. Nineteen long-term care homes are in outbreak right now. Forty three staff members are currently infected.
Doug Ford and Rod Phillips delayed this life saving action that would have protected our loved ones in nursing homes. Our most vulnerable seniors, who received their vaccinations first and may have waning immunity, have been put at risk throughout the fourth wave because of Doug Ford’s failure to act sooner.
Strong leadership means taking decisive action to protect people. Ontario Liberals would have mandated the vaccine in all vulnerable settings months ago.”
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