Doug Ford Says 'We Must Do Whatever It Takes To Slow The Spread Of This Virus'

Ontarians are still seeing too much of each other, and the premier, the minister of health, and the chief medical officer of health just told us to stop it.

Toronto is moving into the red zone ahead of schedule, at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning, and most of the rest of the GTA will also be red by Monday.

Ford implored people to stay home except for "essential reasons," but no new closures were announced.

Editor's Choice: Ford Just Moved New Regions Into The Red Zone & Says More Changes Are Coming

There is absolutely zero, zero daylight between me and Dr. Williams. Premier Doug Ford

Though according to the new provincial COVID-19 framework, the red zone is the second most serious, just behind grey, which is a total lockdown.

When a reporter asked why no regions have been put into full lockdown, Dr. David Williams said that it "would not be a light decision at all, it's one that has to be taken and weighed out." 

He said he would be giving new recommendations to the minister next week.

Williams specifically called out Halloween and weddings as factors in the current spread. Ford apologized to Ontario's approximately 400,000 Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains for what was going to have to be a toned-down Diwali on Saturday.

"We flattened the curve before," Williams said, "and we can do it again."