[GTranslate]TORONTO – The provincial government announces the easing of some restrictions in many regions of Ontario, despite the progressive increase in Covid-19 infections. As had already happened during the last year during the pandemic, at certain stages there is a contradictory approach on the part of the executive in a delicate attempt to maintain a balance between health needs and those of the economy. Yesterday, for the fifth consecutive day, in the province we had more than 2 thousand new cases of Covid-19, with values not seen for two months. The situation in hospitals and especially in intensive care units continues to be extremely worrying: last week there were 760 Covid admissions, with 305 patients in intensive care, now we have moved to 917 and 366 respectively.

Faced with this progressive and gradual worsening of the situation, with the grip of the third wave of the pandemic that is being felt, the provincial government has decided to change for the umpteenth time the parameters and guidelines that regulate the activated colour system to counter the covid-19 contagion. From today, in regions in the grey area – lockdowns, such as Toronto – outdoor training for team sports with up to 10 people can start again, while for outdoor religious functions the maximum limit of people has been eliminated provided that the social distance between the faithful is guaranteed. From April 12th barbers and hairdressers will reopen, with the obligation to make an appointment for customers.

This new backlash from the premier did not please some health associations, which see the progressive reopening of the economy as a possible threat to the potential surge in new cases. A very tough stance came from the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, the nurses’ association, which a document filed Saturday openly accused the Ford government of having implemented a plan that “threatens people’s lives, with the risk of the collapse of the provincial health system and with the closure of schools.”

“The Minister of Health – it says in the document – has declared that the next few weeks will be the decisive ones, and he is right. However, at the same time, while Elliott warns ontario citizens about the danger of new variants, the government decides to loosen some previously activated restrictions on the health of the citizens themselves.

At the same time came Theresa Tam’s warning. “The long-term models and projections – recalled the federal Chief Public Health Officer – indicate a new growth in Covid-19 cases unless local health authorities decide to activate stringent containment measures. With the increasing circulation of highly contagious variants, the risk of an uncontrolled epidemic has grown exponentially”.

Tam, in particular, is concerned about two provinces, Quebec and Ontario. In definitely the risk is that of having to pay a heavy price in the coming months the consequences of some hasty decisions by the government, which will be forced to go back on its feet.