New Delhi (NVI): Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, is set to enter a “hard lockdown” as it experiences an alarming rate of new coronavirus cases.
The lockdown will be put in place for southern Ontario from December 26 until January 23, but will lift for northern Ontario on January 9.
“Thousands of lives are at stake now,” said Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, as he announced a slate of new restrictions that go into effect on Boxing Day. “If we fail to take action now, the consequences could be catastrophic.
On Monday, the province recorded 2,123 new cases of Covid-19 – the seventh day in a row of cases above 2000. In late summer, Ontario was recording single-digit cases.
Toronto, Canada’s largest city, had already closed restaurants for indoor dining but schools remained open. All high schools in Ontario will now be closed for in-person learning until January 25. Elementary schools will be closed until January 11.
Canada now has more than 77,000 active cases across the country and 14,228 deaths.
-CHK
