A number of doctors and infectious diseases experts are calling for a new and aggressive nationwide strategy to reduce COVID-19 cases to zero in a campaign they’re calling #COVIDzero.
The rates of infection have reached record highs in various parts of the country in recent days, including in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. And hospitalizations and COVID-19 related deaths continue to rise.
Some doctors and politicians have proposed implementing so-called “circuit breakers” which are two week economic lockdowns to bring COVID-19 cases under control. But Infectious Diseases Specialist Andrew Morris at Toronto’s Sinai Health and University Health Network says brief and sporadic circuit breakers will only prolong the pain.
Instead, he and his colleagues are calling on governments and public health officials to work together to stamp out community spread of the virus altogether. He says it’s an approach that’s going to take weeks and weeks and a goal that requires longer and stricter restrictions.

Toronto’s mayor is commenting on the #COVIDzero campaign. John Tory says key in this, is ongoing economic support from the federal government to business owners.
Mayor Tory also says sick pay is paramount is making sure that employees who’ve tested positive for the virus won’t go to work out fear they will lose income.