Ontario Premier Doug Ford discussed on Thursday the additional COVID-19 public health restrictions being released Friday, saying they “will have to be tough in the hardest hit areas.” Ford added the province is seeing “concerning trends” amid the pandemic.

"We have some difficult but necessary decisions to make," he stated.

On Wednesday, the premier said the provincial government will be considering new restrictions for Toronto, Peel Region and York Region amid high coronavirus rates in those regions.

Toronto, Peel Region and York Region are currently in the red zone of the province’s coronavirus response framework, which is one level away from a lockdown.

When asked Thursday if he was considering similar measures for Ontario schools after New York City shut down public school facilities due to their COVID-19 positivity rate, Ford said the safest place for children is within the schools. Chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams added they have been working with the ministry of education to expand resources including proper protective equipment, training and extra public health nursing staff.

Ontario reported 1,210 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the provincial total to 99,372.

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