Premier Doug Ford lashed out during his daily news conference on Tuesday.
His issue?
He feels 17 of the province’s 34 local medical officers are falling behind on coronavirus testing, as the number of tests completed for Ontario's daily target fell well below for the second consecutive day Tuesday.
In April, the province set a goal of reaching 16,000 tests per day by May 6, and by Sunday that number eclipsed 17,000 provincial tests. Fewer than 11,000 tests were conducted Monday.
“I'm disappointed with the Chief Medical Officers in certain regions. They know who they are. Start picking up your socks and start doing testing. I don't know what the big problem is with them testing.
"I was on here the last few days saying they’re doing a great job, they were hitting 17,000 consistently and then all of a sudden you come in and you see the 10,000,” Ford said during the media address.
“There are certain medical officers in certain jurisdictions — now keep in mind we have 34 chief medical officers across the province — some just aren’t performing. I’m calling them out right now. You’ve got to pick up the pace.”
But is the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit one of those he is calling out?
So far the local Health Unit has conducted 2,423 COVID-19 tests in the area and that includes about 500 which were conducted by a COVID-19 outreach team from the North Bay Regional Health Centre at Cassellholme long-term care home on Friday.
On Tuesday, prior to Ford's media event. Dr. Jim Chirico, chief medical officer at the region's health unit, replied to BayToday via email about how his staff is handling the assessment calls and demand for testing in the region.
"The Health Unit continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario, hospital assessment and testing centres, primary care and the public," Chirico said.
"This collaboration ensures ongoing monitoring of the situation, support for testing, follow-up with positive COVID-19 individuals and their contacts, and answer questions the public, businesses and health care workers or organizations may have."
Chirico says as the pandemic evolves, Health Unit response, recommendations, and advice are based on the best available evidence as it emerges.
"If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario's Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care. If you need further assistance call your health care provider or the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808," he said.
The Health Unit’s call centre is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
Regardless, chances are due to Ford's outcry, testing will likely be ramping up in all 34 districts in the coming days.
