The Ontario Nurses Association will be in court on Wednesday alleging inaction by Ontario’s chief medical officer of health when it comes to aerosol transmission of COVID 19.

Back in February, an urgent judicial review application was filed by the ONA to seek changes to directives to recognize and protect against the grave risks to healthcare workers from COVID-19, including aerosol and asymptomatic transmission.

ONA President Vicki McKenna says the current public health directives from Dr. David Williams are not enough to protect against a respiratory virus like COVID-19.

She points to the 19-thousand healthcare workers who’ve become infected; a far higher incidence than the general population, while 11 healthcare workers have died a COVID-related death, including one registered nurse.

Current directives only recognize that COVID-19 is spread through close contact and droplets.  

The ONA is asking that the Superior Court order Dr. Williams to amend the directives to explicitly recognize aerosol and asymptomatic transmission.