Ontario declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic 3 years ago today. Here's a look back
CTV
It’s now been three years since Ontario declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s now been three years since Ontario declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic. Back on March 17, 2020, it was thought that restrictions to “flatten the curve” would last for just a few weeks, an extended March Break.
Little did most people realize then that the pandemic would lead to on and off restrictions for more than two years, leave thousands dead and rock daily life to its core for millions of people in the province and around the world.
While Ontario saw a relative return to normal for much of 2022 and so far this year, society is continuing to grapple with the effects of the pandemic, from remote work, to supply shortages to massive municipal revenue losses.
And while the virus itself is no longer threatening to overwhelm hospitals, it remains a real health threat for many people.
“COVID is still here. It absolutely is. It is has not gone away,” Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CP24 in a conversation about the three-year anniversary Thursday. “And COVID continues to disproportionately impact older Canadians and Canadians that have underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk for more severe infection.”
Bogoch said the vaccination campaign “got much more complicated after second doses” and there remain communities that are under-vaccinated.
In general, he said people over 60 or those with underlying medical conditions should get a shot if they haven’t had one in the past six months.
