As COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations spike in this province, it is being widely reported Ontario’s premier will announce a state of emergency at 1pm Tuesday.

An emergency declaration would give Doug Ford the authority to create and implement enhanced public health measures.

Dr. Michael Warner is the head of critical care at Toronto’s Michael Garron Hospital.

He is calling on the premier to announce a lockdown that at the very least emulates what we had in the first wave of COVID 19 in the Spring.

Dr Warner points out cancer surgeries are already being cancelled because of the high number of COVID patients in intensive care units.

“We’re prioritizing the potential COVID patient over the patient who might need surgery to save their life from cancer,” Warner explained to CP24, “And once we get to the 550 number which we will exceed for sure, that’s when the potential triage protocol could be implemented whereby patients who more likely to survive their COVID-19 or other illness, will be given life support preferentially over others if those resources are not available for everybody.”

Measures which are said to have been considered by Premier Ford and his cabinet ministers Monday night include limiting outdoor gatherings to 5 people down from 10, reducing shopping hours to between 7am and 8pm, allowing only essential workers in office spaces, along with further restrictions on the construction industry.