On May 21, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano announced the first phase of research projects to be awarded funding from Ontario’s COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund. Premier Ford and Minister Romano were joined by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott responded to questions from media about the steady growth of COVID-19 cases over the past several days, as well as Ontario’s testing strategy and allowing family caregivers into long-term care homes.

Further Details

First Phase of Ontario COVID-19 Research Projects Announced

This afternoon, Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Colleges and Universities, Ross Romano, announced the first phase of research projects to be awarded funding from Ontario’s COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund. The 15 proposals selected to date will receive a total of $7.2 million in funding and will focus on areas of research such as vaccine development, diagnostics, drug trials and development and social sciences. According to Minister Romano, these proposals all have a “legitimate chance of success.”

Minister Romano also announced this afternoon that Ontario is leading the country with 22 clinical trials investigating COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

Ontario’s COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund was first announced on April 18, 2020. The $20 million fund aims to support COVID-19 research by leveraging the expertise of Ontario’s colleges, universities, research institutions and non-profit scientific partners.

When asked whether any guidelines have been issued to post-secondary institutions for the upcoming fall semester, Minister Romano explained that the current focus for post-secondary institutions is to deliver a hybrid model in the fall. The Ministry of Colleges and Universities is supporting institutions in maximizing the course content that is available virtually and is working to develop safe guidelines for conducting courses that require in-person attendance.

Questions from Media – Growth of Case Numbers, Testing Strategy, and Caregivers in Long-Term Care

Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott responded to questions from media about the steady growth of COVID-19 cases over the past several days, as well as Ontario’s testing strategy and allowing family caregivers into long-term care homes.

In response to questions about a slight increase in Ontario’s COVID-19 case numbers over the past several days, Premier Ford reiterated that he will not hesitate to reinstate stricter measures if case numbers continue to increase. Minister Elliott added that it is too early to measure the impact of stage one of Ontario’s restart on case numbers, and that the slight increase predated stage one reopening measures which came into effect on May 19. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, remains satisfied that Ontario’s case numbers are trending downward.

When asked about Ontario’s continued issues in processing large volumes of tests, Premier Ford was clear that he wants to see increased testing within the province, particularly among truckers, taxi, rideshare drivers and within the automotive and food processing sectors. The COVID-19 Command Table is working on a plan to improve testing and more details will be shared next week. Premier Ford indicated that among the priorities of this plan will be continued testing within long-term care, as well as increased public testing for asymptomatic cases.

In response to questions about Quebec’s decision to allow essential family caregivers into long-term care homes experiencing staffing shortages, Minister Elliott confirmed that this is not being considered in Ontario.