Ontario’s top doctor has strict new advice for Ontarians over 70 and those of any age with a compromised immune system or underlying health condition: don’t go out anymore.

Everyone else should stay home as much as possible to limit the spread of COVID-19, heading out only for essential work, essential errands or medical appointments and avoiding crowded situations when out for a walk, a jog or walking the dog.

“If you can’t do it in a safe way, you then you should stay home,” chief medical officer Dr. David Williams said Monday, ramping up warnings over the new coronavirus that has killed 33 people in Ontario.

“Some on the weekend were less than vigilant.”

Premier Doug Ford said the sight of crowded parks, sidewalks and streets in Sunday’s sunny and mild weather was “unacceptable.”

He pleaded with citizens to be more careful given a shortage of masks, gowns, gloves, face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers.

“The reality is, if there’s a massive surge of people coming in to our hospitals in the next two weeks, our supply lines will be seriously challenged,” Ford told a news conference where he noted supplies are coming in slowly despite a flurry of concerns from nurses that masks are being rationed to two per shift.

“So every week, every day, every hour we can push back that surge is another week, another day, another hour that we have to prepare,” he said.

To ease fears on the front lines, the province reached an agreement with the Ontario Nurses’ Association that nurses will have access to “appropriate health and safety control measures” when assessing patients, including N95 respirator masks if necessary.

Hospitals and other health care employers “will not unreasonably deny access to the appropriate PPE.” If supplies go below a 30-day stock, contingency plans must be developed in consultation with the union representing nurses.

Williams stressed that he is “strongly recommending” not leaving home and avoiding visitors for those over 70, and people with compromised immune systems — such as from cancer treatments — or underlying medical conditions like diabetes and lung problems because of the higher risk the virus poses to their health.

“They have to take extra precautions,” he said. “The older you are, the more likely you are to have severe consequences from COVID-19 infection.”

People in these categories should be keeping appointments and accessing services by phone or online, and asking for help from friends, family or neighbours with groceries, prescription pickups and other essential errands, he added.

Oher Ontarians should limit their outings for food shopping, work and exercise as much as possible and stay two metres from others to minimize the odds they will contract or spread the coronavirus, helping protect the vulnerable by keeping rates of transmission low.

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“I’m not discouraging anyone from going out for their early morning jog,” Williams said, encouraging solitude. “If you know it’s going to be a busy area … you don’t go there.”

Essential errands include shopping for elderly or vulnerable neighbours to help them avoid potential exposures at supermarkets, for example. As the Star has reported, a handful of grocery store and LCBO workers have caught COVID-19. An employee of the Real Canadian Superstore in Oshawa died from the virus last week.

“We do have community spread,” Toronto medical officer Dr. Eileen de Villa said Monday.