The head of Ontario’s public health agency is stepping aside temporarily for personal medical reasons in the midst of the fight against COVID-19, the Star has learned. The source stressed Donnelly’s medical condition is “not COVID-19 related.”Another senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations, praised Donnelly. Two other executives — Dr. Vanessa Allen, chief of medical microbiology, and Dr. Shelley Deeks, chief health protection officer, — will have larger roles at the agency during Donnelly’s absence, the government source said. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN...Donnelly’s departure follows the recruitment of a troubleshooter, former Toronto public health chief Dr. David McKeown, to help manage tactics and strategy in the pandemic, as the Star first reported Wednesday. Ontario Health is the umbrella agency in charge of all elements in the provincial health system.

Source: thestar April 09, 2020 16:19 UTC