As the date for the Ontario election approaches, two of four of the province’s major political party leaders tested positive for COVID-19.
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner said in a press release Wednesday night that he had tested positive in a quick test after close contact with a staff member.
Schreiner said he was “feeling well” and had adjusted his plans to campaign from home while in isolation.
NDP leader Andrea Horvat made similar news in a press release Thursday morning and will now attend his previously planned personal campaign stops in northern Ontario.
All four party leaders were in close proximity to each other on Monday night for a single televised debate on the 2022 election campaign.
A spokesman for Stephen Del Duca said the Liberal Leader’s test was negative after news of positive results from the Schreiner and Horvat test.
“He is asymptomatic and feels great and wishes Mike and Andrea a speedy recovery,” the spokesman said.
A PC Party spokesman, meanwhile, responded to an e-mail from CTV News Toronto asking for the status of leader Doug Ford, saying: “He is not experiencing any symptoms.”
Ivana Jelic said that “more than 48 hours have passed” since the debate, “he is not considered close contact”.
Jelic added that there was also a negative test.
Speaking to CP24 on Thursday morning, Dr. Susie Hotta, medical director of the University Health Network for Infection Prevention and Control, said positive cases among party leaders should serve as a reminder that COVID-19 is still being transmitted in Ontario.
Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader Doug Ford, left to right, Ontario New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horvat, Ontario Liberal Party leader Stephen Del Duca and Ontario leader Green Party Mike Schreiner debate during the debate. Ontario, Toronto, Monday, May 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Frank Gunn
“There is a lot of social interaction between party leaders and the public,” Hota said.
“This is a warning reminder that there are still a lot of COVID-19s at the moment.
Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 in Ontario, which served as an indicator of transmission in the absence of widely available PCR tests, have been gradually declining in recent weeks.
However, the limited number of tests reported on a daily basis suggests that COVID-19 is still circulating in the province, with a positive rate persistently remaining above 10 percent.
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