I am a resident of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I live in a city and province where Covid-19 is just about out of control. It did not have to be this way. The warning signs have been there for months. But the premier of this province just did not get it and still does not get it. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed a core set of leadership skills that are determinants of how successful a politician is in managing this crisis. Premier Ford has not demonstrated that he has these key leadership attributes.
A Belief in Science
The science has helped us understand the key elements of this highly transmissible virus. The Ontario’s Covid-19 Scientific Table is composed of several very knowledgeable medical experts. They advised the politicians that the virus is spread between individuals who are in enclosed spaces and are close together. The scientists have told us for months that if we stay home, wear masks, and remain socially distant, we can greatly reduce the spread.
In Ontario, we are in the third wave of the virus. The number of new cases is rising on almost a daily basis. But Premier Ford has chosen to close parks, golf and tennis clubs but keep factories, warehouses, and places of worship open. Is there a need to manufacture ladies’ purses during a pandemic? Why place people in congregated indoor settings which increase the risk of catching the virus?
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