GTHA Mayors and Chairs support deploying more vaccines to hot spots and sick pay improvements

HAMILTON, ON -  "Today, Mayors and Chairs from the 11 largest municipal governments across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area held their regular weekly meeting to discuss the ongoing response to COVID-19 across the region.

We express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of 13-year-old Emily Victoria Viegas. Every COVID-19 death represents a tragedy but this loss does confirm the extreme threat the variants pose to all of us.

The GTHA, like the rest of Ontario and much of Canada, is in the third wave with all our hospitals experiencing increased strain on health care resources. The Mayors and Chairs continue to urge all residents to keep following the public health advice to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and limit the strain on our overburdened health care system.

Given the limited vaccine supply right now, municipalities across the GTHA are absolutely focused on deploying as much of the available vaccines as possible to local hot spots. By following this strategy, we are seeing success when it comes to increasing the number of people vaccinated in hot spot postal codes and we know this will make a difference in the long term. We encourage the Province to continue to increase the vaccines made available to hot spots across our region consistent with medical and scientific advice.

Last week, the province pledged to come forward with an improved sick pay system. The Mayors and Chairs welcome this commitment and look forward to seeing the system in place as soon as possible to help protect more of our essential workers."

“The death of 13-year-old Emily Victoria Viegas is tragic in its own right but underlines that COVID-19 is a real and present danger. Be assured that all municipalities across the GTHA are focused on getting vaccines to local hot spots and vulnerable people. We welcome the commitment by the Province to bring in improved sick pay to make it possible for people who are sick or have symptoms to stay home and still be able to pay their bills. Everyone can do their part by following public health advice: Stay at home as much as possible, maintain physical distance, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask, and above all get vaccinated as soon as your turn comes up.”

- Mayor Fred Eisenberger