Day: April 1, 2020

April 1st End of Day Update: COVID-19

April 1, 2020 

Dear Neighbours, 

Please see the following update regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) from the City of Toronto: 

City taking unprecedented action to stop COVID-19 and save lives, the healthcare system and the economy

The City of Toronto announced strong measures today to halt the spread of COVID-19. Three key objectives for the City and its emergency response to COVID-19 include reducing the loss of life, preserving capacity in the healthcare system and minimizing social and economic impacts. As Toronto’s case numbers continue to increase (there’s been a 500 per cent increase in cases over past two week), Medical Officer of Health, Dr. de Villa is using every power available under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to implement stronger measures to help achieve the three objectives. Mayor Tory is also in the process of drafting bylaw to promote physical distancing on City property. More details here: https://bit.ly/2wbepDO 

Physical distancing at City parks

Toronto parks are only open for walking, cycling and running. Using amenities in parks or congregating in groups is not permitted. City staff together with the Toronto Police Service are prioritizing the patrol of hot spot parks. While education is the first line of enforcement, the fines range between $750 to a maximum of $5,000. City staff are re-installing signage, locks and caution tape at parks where these have been removed. Additionally, the City’s Parks Ambassadors have begun a downtown hot spot education blitz and electronic portable signs will display messages near some busy parks. More information is available here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/affected-city-services/?accordion=parks 

The TTC has implemented changes to not only protect operators but riders as well. 

These include:

·         Increase in daily disinfecting of touch points in stations and on vehicles.

·         No longer accepting cash, tickets or tokens on TTC buses.

·         TTC employees may choose to wear their own masks while working.

In addition to safe physical distancing and to help stop the spread of COVID-19, please follow the advice of Toronto Public Health, including:

·         Avoiding non-essential trips in the community

·         Limiting, postponing or canceling gatherings

·         Working from home, where possible

·         Keeping kids away from group settings

·         Staying in your home if you are ill

·         Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces

As well, if you have travelled anywhere outside Canada, please to self-isolate (i.e. stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including those in their home) for 14 days after your return.

COVID-19 legal information for Steps to Justice 

CLEO’s Steps to Justice website, is a site is updated on a daily basis, gives answers to more than 50 legal questions, including questions about emergency benefits assistance, Employment Insurance, getting evicted for non-payment of rent, and what to do about family law matters in the midst of the closure of the courts. Access CLEO’s Steps to Justice website here: www.stepstojustice.ca/covid-19 

Scarborough Health Network’s (SHN) Stroke Centre

Scarborough Health Network is proud to announce they are opening a new Stroke Centre of Excellence at their Birchmount hospital on April 8. For the first time, patients will have access to seamless stroke care services here in Scarborough. 

SHN will begin delivering care through the new Stroke Centre, which will include: 

• Integrated Stroke Unit: A 22-bed unit is best practice for treating stroke patients who have been hospitalized – providing medical care and rehabilitation services all within the same space. 
• Stroke Prevention Clinic: SHN’s outpatient clinic will now be located at Birchmount, providing support and follow-up care for patients in managing their risk factors for stroke. 

Find more information here: https://shn.ca/stroke-centre-of-excellence/ 

Toronto Police clarify social-distancing enforcement measures

The Toronto Police Service is reminding people that travelling, or being parked in a car, with five people or less – including individuals from different home addresses – is not against the law. 

Members of the public are reminded that government directives apply to “organized public events and social gatherings” of more than five people, as well as the ordered closures of the following locations:

·         All facilities providing indoor recreational programs

·         All public libraries

·         All private schools as defined in the Education Act

·         All licensed child care centres

·         All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery

·         All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies

·         Concert venues

·         All City-owned playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor exercise equipment and other parks amenities, as well as parking lots attached to its parks system

Questions about organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people or open businesses that should be closed, can be addressed by calling 311.

City of Toronto bylaw officers will be monitoring and providing information and education to non-compliant individuals and businesses. In some cases, the Toronto Police are contacted to conduct enforcement actions under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. 

The Toronto Police Service continue to conduct proactive enforcement, when necessary, and officers will use their discretion to determine the proper action. 

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Checkhttps://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.

You can also reach me by telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca 

All my Best,

Paul

April 1, 2020 

Dear Neighbours, 

Please see the following update regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) from the City of Toronto: 

City of Toronto taking unprecedented action to stop COVID-19, save lives, the healthcare system and the economy

Today, Mayor John Tory announced that the City of Toronto, under the strong advice of its Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, is taking action to aggressively halt the spread of COVID-19 in Toronto.

Just two weeks ago, on March 18, Toronto had 145 COVID-19 cases, with 10 people in hospital. Four were in intensive care, there were no outbreaks and there were no COVID-19-related deaths.

As of March 31, Toronto has 763 cases of COVID-19, with 66 in hospital and 33 in intensive care. There are now 11 outbreaks reported and, tragically, eight deaths.

In the last two weeks alone, the economic loss to the retail sector is estimated to be $291 million.

To arrest COVID-19 more quickly, and to save lives, protect the healthcare system and ensure the economy and society can rebound more quickly, the following measures will take effect immediately for up to 12 weeks:

• All individuals with COVID-19 are ordered by the Medical Officer of Health to stay home, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act for 14 days
• All individuals who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are also ordered to stay home by the Medical Officer of Health for 14 days
• Anyone who is not ill or has not travelled, is strongly directed to stay home except for the following reasons:

• accessing healthcare or medication
• shop for groceries once per week
• walk their dogs
• get daily exercise while maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres

• People returning from international travel must stay home, already a federal order
• Anyone over the age of 70, as the province announced this week, is strongly encouraged to stay home as much as possible
• Increased supports for self-isolation for those experiencing homelessness
• Only essential businesses remain open, and those businesses maximize physical distancing and infection prevention and control practices, and limit in-person access to those businesses, as much as possible
• Increased cleaning and active screening of employees at all businesses.

The City, under the guidance of the Medical Officer of Health, will monitor cases and community transmission of COVID-19, adjusting the timing and measures as appropriate. If we do not take these actions today, the city will see substantially increased loss of life, and may not begin to recover, economically and as a society, until the end of 2020.

Mayor Tory strongly supports these unprecedented measures to save lives, protect health and give residents their lives back at the earliest possible date. The Mayor urged all residents to follow the guidance of public health officials to reduce substantial loss of life in Toronto, to protect the healthcare system, and to minimize the significant social and economic disruptions that will occur if new measures are not taken, noting these new measures will require tremendous sacrifice by the people of Toronto.

The City is asking residents to adhere to these orders and strong recommendations in the interest of public health and safety. While informing and educating the public in understanding why these measures are important, additional orders could be issued by the Medical Officer of Health, and in some cases, fines could be issued where there is non-compliance. City bylaw enforcement officers and the Toronto Police Service will work together to enforce the provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and the orders issued by the Medical Officer of Health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

The City of Toronto is compiling a comprehensive list of resources and critical information to ensure businesses, the city’s most vulnerable, community groups and the public are kept informed during this unprecedented time. The City’s website is being updated and revamped with new information, daily. A public information campaign, in multiple languages, will help ensure a full understanding of what the public is being asked to do and, importantly, why.

The City’s Emergency Operations Centre remains fully activated at a Level 3 and will continue to respond and coordinate all activities associated with keeping Toronto safe. City staff are working in parallel on a recovery plan to ensure the City’s finances remain stable, as well as ensuring the stability of the Toronto Public Service. Later this week, the City will provide an update on its finances and workforce deployment.

By following the direction of public health officials and limiting COVID-19 exposure to essential and critical workers that keep the city functioning, we can ensure that emergency services, garbage collection, water, gas, electricity, public transportation, emergency daycare, and support for our most vulnerable can continue to function.

The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.

You can also reach me by telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca 

All my Best,

Paul