Don't cut the Ontario Wastewater Surveillance Initiative
Don't cut the Ontario Wastewater Surveillance Initiative
The Issue
NOTE - we are not collecting donations. No need to donate - all your donations will go only to Change.org.
Doug Ford:
We are demanding that you immediately reverse your recent decision to cancel the Ontario Wastewater Surveillance Initiative.
Wastewater surveillance is the most accurate and cost-effective way to monitor the spread of COVID, the flu and other infectious diseases -- including future pandemic threats.
It also helps Ontario residents understand the risk of getting sick and plan our lives.
Your decision to cancel this initiative is not only an attack on our health -- it's an attack on science and local jobs.
Just a couple of years ago Ontario was seen as a global leader in wastewater tracking.
Originally a recommendation from the Science Advisory Table, this wastewater data from 59 sites has helped local public health units, the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and others understand the trends in infectious diseases in Ontario and save lives.
Everyone in Ontario benefits from understanding their risk of getting COVID, the flu, or other viruses, but this is especially important for people who are immunocompromised and people with chronic illness.
With your cuts, 11.6 million people in Ontario will lose valuable information about their health on July 31.
Every single city, town, and First Nation in the Province will lose information except for Toronto, which is the only city currently part of the national testing program.
The impact of this will be felt province-wide, but will hit people in rural and remote areas especially hard.
In addition, researchers from dozens of labs from north to south are already losing their jobs because of your decision.
Cancelling this program is dangerous and short-sighted. You are letting down the Ontario public by gambling with our lives to save a few dollars.
Do not cancel our last source of data on COVID and other diseases.
We urge you to reinstate the funding for wastewater testing before it's set to expire July 31.
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For more on this campaign, connect with us on Instagram @informedontarians or by email at ontariansfortesting@gmail.com.
3,735
The Issue
NOTE - we are not collecting donations. No need to donate - all your donations will go only to Change.org.
Doug Ford:
We are demanding that you immediately reverse your recent decision to cancel the Ontario Wastewater Surveillance Initiative.
Wastewater surveillance is the most accurate and cost-effective way to monitor the spread of COVID, the flu and other infectious diseases -- including future pandemic threats.
It also helps Ontario residents understand the risk of getting sick and plan our lives.
Your decision to cancel this initiative is not only an attack on our health -- it's an attack on science and local jobs.
Just a couple of years ago Ontario was seen as a global leader in wastewater tracking.
Originally a recommendation from the Science Advisory Table, this wastewater data from 59 sites has helped local public health units, the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and others understand the trends in infectious diseases in Ontario and save lives.
Everyone in Ontario benefits from understanding their risk of getting COVID, the flu, or other viruses, but this is especially important for people who are immunocompromised and people with chronic illness.
With your cuts, 11.6 million people in Ontario will lose valuable information about their health on July 31.
Every single city, town, and First Nation in the Province will lose information except for Toronto, which is the only city currently part of the national testing program.
The impact of this will be felt province-wide, but will hit people in rural and remote areas especially hard.
In addition, researchers from dozens of labs from north to south are already losing their jobs because of your decision.
Cancelling this program is dangerous and short-sighted. You are letting down the Ontario public by gambling with our lives to save a few dollars.
Do not cancel our last source of data on COVID and other diseases.
We urge you to reinstate the funding for wastewater testing before it's set to expire July 31.
--
For more on this campaign, connect with us on Instagram @informedontarians or by email at ontariansfortesting@gmail.com.
3,735
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Petition created on July 8, 2024