Dr. Williams gives final COVID-19 response update ahead of retirement

In Dr. David Williams’ final COVID-19 update on Thursday, the province says it’s sticking with its plan of remaining in Step 2 for “approximately 21 days” so vaccines can take full effect and other health indicators can be monitored.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health who announced his retirement a few months ago, Dr. Williams was joined at the 10:15 a.m. news conference by Dr. Kieran Moore.

Williams gave his final COVID-19 update as chief medical officer of health. The province tabled a motion last month that would replace Williams after more than five years in the role.

Moore is replacing Williams and will become the province’s new chief medical officer of health on June 26.

“We’d rather be taking slow strides forward, than trip going out the door,” Williams said at his final pandemic news conference as Ontario’s chief medical officer of the health on Thursday.

“You’ve earned it, you’ve done it, but let’s keep it.”

The province says regularly scheduled COVID-19 updates will move from Mondays and Thursdays to Tuesdays under Moore.

Moore, formerly the top doctor for the Kingston, Ont., area said he agreed with taking a cautious approach, especially with the more infections Delta variant spreading in the province.

People with one vaccine dose are less protected against that variant that now makes up about half of the cases in the province, Moore said.

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The variant’s spread has slowed the pace of reopening in the northeastern Porcupine health unit, which will enter Step 1 on Friday weeks after the rest of the province, and in Waterloo Region, which announced on Thursday it would delay moving into Step 2, possibly until mid-July.

Waterloo Region’s top doctor said Thursday the delay is meant to “avoid having to take a step back” and to allow residents have more time to be vaccinated.

“This approach gives us the best chance to hold onto the gains we have made,” Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said in a statement.

Moore said the province is also watching the variant situation in health units covering Grey Bruce and North Bay. He further efforts are being made to get first doses to more than 80 per cent of adults, a statistic he said is within reach based on modelling.

“It’s looking very promising,” he said. “Once we achieve that … the incidence of even Delta will be going down in our communities and we’ll be able to open up more fully and more safely very quickly.”

More Ontario residents in Delta variant hot spots, including the entire GTA, became eligible to move up their second COVID-19 vaccine dose on Wednesday.

The province is accelerating second shot appointments for hot spots residents that received a first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 30.

Amid shipment delays from Pfizer this week, residents who received that shot for their first dose are being encouraged to take Moderna.

Despite repeated assurances, there were reports this week of some people hoping to get a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and walking away from clinics offering Moderna.

Ontario reported its smallest number of daily new infections and lowest positivity rate since September on Wednesday.

The province announced an earlier move to Step 2 that will begin ahead of schedule on June 30.

The move means personal care services will be able to open next Wednesday, two days earlier than expected. Capacity limits for retail stores and patios are also expected to expand.

Premier Doug Ford had previously hinted that he would like to move to Step 2 a little bit sooner than originally planned.

Williams has been somewhat reluctant to speed up the reopening plan that has each stage separated by 21 days, citing the risk of a virus resurgence with a more infectious variant spreading.

He said last week, however, that he would consider moving to Step 2 a few days ahead of schedule.

Ford receives 2nd dose of AstraZeneca 

The Premier got his second COVID-19 vaccine dose on Thursday.

“I want to thank all the Ontarians that came out to get vaccinated,” Ford said. “If you haven’t received your first vaccination, please go out and get [it]. If you have your first, please go out and get your second dose as soon as possible.

Ford received his first shot on April 9.

His office says he opted for a second jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca product.

The province stopped offering first doses of AstraZeneca due to a rare but serious blood clotting condition.

Those who received an initial dose from that brand are able to choose between receiving the same for their second shot, or a dose of an mRNA vaccine.