TORONTO — Ontario’s science advisers say a six-week stay-at-home order and a vaccination rate of at least 100,000 doses a day is the only way to flatten the COVID-19 curve in the province.

In new projections presented today, the advisers say daily infections could approach 20,000 cases per day if strong measures aren’t imposed.

Data indicates Ontario’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are at their highest levels since the pandemic began.

The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table says high case rates will persist into the summer without stronger measures and more support for essential workers and high-risk communities.

The group says vaccines are not reaching high-risk people fast enough to overcome serious illness seen in hospitals.

Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce new public health measures later today.

His government has also asked other provinces to send nurses and other health workers to Ontario as hospitals are pushed to the brink by surging COVID-19 infections.

More coming.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2021.

The Canadian Press