The province is allowing public health care even more authority and flexibility to make staffing decisions as the fight against COVID-19 ramps across Ontario.
Premier Doug Ford and company issued the new emergency order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act on Friday morning, effective immediately.
The measure allows public health units to make additional staffing decisions to support the pandemic, despite any collective agreements. The province says this will allow a much better capacity to implement critical functions like case and contact management and the use of volunteers. Thousands of retired nurses and medical students have volunteered through the province’s website.
The order comes from recommendations made by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams.
The province is also launching an online portal for the public to access their COVID-19 test results.
