Dr. Kieran Moore will be replacing Dr. David Williams as chief medical Officer of health, the Toronto Star is reporting.
The news comes as Kingston is once again seeing low levels of virus transmission, with just 17 active cases in the KFLA community. While Moore isn’t officially expected to take the job for several weeks, the announcement is said to be occurring on Monday.
Initially appointed by former premier Kathleen Wynne, Dr. Williams remained in the chief medical officer of health role after having his role extended in February. However, this has not been without controversy.
Dr. Williams was often criticized for his communication style and his apparent tendency to endorse politicized portions of the provinces reopening plan. Despite the criticism, premier Doug Ford has remained steadfast in his support for him.
“Dr. Williams is in my opinion a champion and works collaboratively,” Ford said in September. “I will stand by Dr. Williams any day,” he added.
In contrast to Dr. Williams, Dr. Moore has been praised for his quick and effective approach to containing the COVID-19 virus in his public health region.
Dr. Moore has become known for his team’s ability to contract traces with high accuracy and their ability to communicate effectively in the region.
Traditionally, Ontario’s Chief Medical officer of Health typically serves a five-year, and is eligible to have their term extended.
Initial reactions of the news from the Kingston community was celebratory. However, others have said that they will miss his regular updates.
YGK News has reached out to KFLA Public Health but have said that they have no comment on the reports.
More information to come.