M95 mask-wearing, multiple COVID-vaccinated Ontarians are expressing outrage and dismay that the province has decided to save $20 million per year by ending its wastewater testing.
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The Progressive Conservatives’ recent decision to end the program and instead rely on federal testing that’s still taking place is predictably causing a social media dumpster fire from users, many of whom still have their display picture with them wearing a COVID mask.
The province’s NDP leader Marit Stiles said “Have we learned nothing?” and promised to re-invest in the practice if she’s elected Premier.
One social media user named Lucy, who still virtue signals with an M95 mask on her profile picture, also lamented the decision, stating, “I’m still hoping for an 11th hour rescue of our local wastewater testing system here in Ontario.”
Another user called it a “truly appalling failure” of Premier Doug Ford’s Conservatives.
Truly an appalling failure of @fordnation’s government to end wastewater testing when the most recent covid signal in Eastern Ontario looks like this pic.twitter.com/sQHE4ceR0D
— dianac.bsky.social (@dianamchard) July 31, 2024
See you in a week, Canada, heading out to see daughter perform overseas.
— Nili Kaplan-Myrth MD PhD (@nilikm) July 31, 2024
Meanwhile, my article about ongoing concerns re #COVID19 will be in @OttawaCitizen on Friday.#SaltingTheVibes pic.twitter.com/nYtWe0cCoP
Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, one of the faces of COVID fear-mongering in Canada, said the decision is “ irresponsible.”
Kaplan-Myrth recently announced that she was infected with COVID despite having received several COVID boosters and stating that she still wears a mask in public settings.
Yet another user named Kate took off her mask to post a video where she asked, “Why, why is he cancelling this program? It makes no sense.”
We need straight answers- why is @fordnation cancelling the program?
— Kate (@DrKateTO) July 31, 2024
It can’t be data duplication, PHAC won’t ramp up to the 50+ sites we have now.
It can’t be cost, it’s <2% of a MegaSpa parking garage!
This #WastewaterWednesday give him a call and ask why 📱 416-325-1941 https://t.co/EyacLraoDK pic.twitter.com/eImmLqg3v4
Ontario’s Health Minister defended her move to end the program, saying the federal system suffices. The federal program only tests at a handful of sites near Toronto, compared to the province’s program that had about fifty sites.
.@fordnation, @SylviaJonesMPP, do you want to check this out first before you disband Ontario's Wastewater Surveillance Initiative?
— Ted Hsu (@tedhsu) July 31, 2024
Although this group only shows one data point, this is one trend you might want to investigate for the sake of Ontarians' public health.#onpoli https://t.co/drZccTV6YL pic.twitter.com/knLEHpPNua