'Never let our guard down going forward': Ontario's new top doctor focused on recovery and preparation
Ontario's next chief medical officer of health says recovery and preparing for the next pandemic are among his major priorities as he prepares to take on the new role later this month.
On May 30, the Ontario Government confirmed that Dr. Kieran Moore will be Ontario's new top doctor, replacing Dr. David Williams.
Dr. Moore says he knows the fight isn’t over, but as the pandemic changes, so will Ontario’s response.
"The biggest challenge is still that this is an aggressive, nasty virus that wants to continue to spread, and it continues to mutate around the globe," he says. "It's my job that we have a system in place that holds everyone accountable for this type of preparedness on an annual basis. And we never let our guard down going forward."
Moore has had major success as the medical officer of health for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health, which has done much better than other cities in the province.
Many have hailed Moore’s quick action on things like closing Kingston beaches twice after crowds gathered earlier this year, shutting down major outbreaks on campus at Queen's University and at a nail salon, and opening up asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for thousands of restaurant workers at the first sign of a possible outbreak in the industry.
For years, Moore has been teaching Queen’s University students mock-up pandemics. Moore plans to bring his background in emergency preparedness to the role and implement that approach provincewide.
"I want to set up an office within the chief medical officer of health office that just prepares for emergencies and uses simulations to build up the skill sets and an ongoing basis and report to the legislature on an annual basis on the state of preparedness," said Dr. Moore.
In a much bigger role, with a lot more responsibility, he admits the task is large but says he’s focusing on the fact that he won’t be alone. Dr. Moore tells CTV News Ottawa he’s focused on the team, and learning lessons from COVID-19 as the economy reopens.
"It will remain a threat, we'll have to just keep vigilant as we try to reopen our economy, reopen and recover from this virus."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza, prompting Israel to say it would send a delegation to negotiate – though it warned the proposal remained far from the 'necessary requirements.'
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
2024 Met Gala: Everything to know about fashion's annual soiree
Fashion's biggest night out — hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York each year on the first Monday of May — is both a forever-evolving spectacle and a carefully crafted event.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Concern over speeding in Fredericton neighbourhood grows after 2 teens, young adult killed in crash
Three people – including two teens – are dead, and two others are injured after a crash that has left a greater Fredericton community shaken.