A group of science experts advising the Ontario government says the province can control the spread of COVID-19 if public health measures stay in place.
New modelling from the Ontario science table was released today, hours before Premier Doug Ford is set to unveil his plan for lifting public health restrictions.
The experts say a combination of vaccination and public health measures has led to declining case counts and stable hospitalizations and ICU admissions.
But as cold weather approaches, driving more activities indoors where the risk of transmission is higher, the science table says continuing some public health measures is necessary to maintain control of the pandemic.
Modelling shows that if there is no change in policy or people's behaviours, cases will continue to decline, while some increase in social contacts will keep cases stable.
A ``substantial'' increase in contacts could lead to more than 600 daily cases by the end of November.
All of those scenarios assume public health measures such as masking, a proof-of-vaccination system, symptom screening and good ventilation and filtration continue.