TORONTO — Ontario New Democrats are calling on the provincial government to establish a permanent program offering 10 days of paid sick leave, saying it would help limit the spread of monkeypox and other infectious diseases.
NDP MP Kristyn Wong-Tam noted that the isolation recommendation for people with monkeypox may be 21 days or potentially longer.
She says the government should establish a permanent program to allow workers to take 10 days of paid sick leave for infectious diseases and an additional 14 days of sick leave during public health emergencies.
Ontario currently has a pandemic program offering workers three paid sick days for absences related to COVID-19 such as testing, vaccination, isolation or caring for loved ones with the virus.
Public Health Ontario is reporting 288 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the province as of July 21, most of which are located in Toronto.
Public health officials say most cases are in men who report intimate contact with men, but caution that anyone can get monkeypox.
