A Hamilton-based infectious diseases specialist is conflicted after the Ontario government announced Thursday pandemic restrictions will loosen at the end of the month.
Starting Jan. 31, restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theatres are among a list of public settings that can reopen at 50 per cent capacity.
“Those industries have largely been punished when things have gone up and down,” Dr. Zain Chagla said in an interview on Morning Live Friday.
“At the same time, there are healthcare capacity issues.”
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While COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred in these settings, Chagla said it is more likely for the virus to spread within workplaces, homes and social gatherings.
But the rapid community transmission of Omicron has overwhelmed hospitals and intensive care units, prompting staff shortages and the closure of non-essential businesses.
“It’s hard to reconcile the fact that restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theatres have to deal with the burden of what’s happening in our hospitals,” he said.
As of Jan. 21, there are 4,114 patients in Ontario hospitals due to COVID-19 and 590 in the ICU.
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