Ontario health minister defends provinces approach amid worsening measles outbreak [Video]

Health Minister Sylvia Jones defended on Wednesday the province’s approach to the measles outbreak as new infections increase sharply and criticism mounts.

The latest public health data released last week shows 223 new infections across Ontario in the previous week.

That brings the total number of people in the province who have fallen ill from the virus to 1,243 since October. That includes 84 people who have been hospitalized, 63 of them children.

Jones said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has been helping local public health units where the outbreaks are occurring. Moore directed public health units more than a year ago to focus their efforts on childhood vaccinations.

When asked if the province’s approach was working, Jones said: “I believe it is.”

“Look, there’s no doubt that there are outbreaks in certain communities and the focus needs to be on first reminding caregivers, parents the value …