April 1, 2020 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dear Neighbours, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please see the following update regarding\nthe Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) from the City of Toronto: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
City of Toronto taking unprecedented\naction to stop COVID-19, save lives, the healthcare system and the economy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Mayor John Tory announced that the\nCity of Toronto, under the strong advice of its Medical Officer of Health, Dr.\nEileen de Villa, is taking action to aggressively halt the spread of COVID-19\nin Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just two weeks ago, on March 18, Toronto\nhad 145 COVID-19 cases, with 10 people in hospital. Four were in intensive\ncare, there were no outbreaks and there were no COVID-19-related deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of March 31, Toronto has 763 cases of\nCOVID-19, with 66 in hospital and 33 in intensive care. There are now 11\noutbreaks reported and, tragically, eight deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the last two weeks alone, the economic\nloss to the retail sector is estimated to be $291 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To arrest COVID-19 more quickly, and to\nsave lives, protect the healthcare system and ensure the economy and society\ncan rebound more quickly, the following measures will take effect immediately\nfor up to 12 weeks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City, under the guidance of the\nMedical Officer of Health, will monitor cases and community transmission of\nCOVID-19, adjusting the timing and measures as appropriate. If we do not take\nthese actions today, the city will see substantially increased loss of life,\nand may not begin to recover, economically and as a society, until the end of\n2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mayor Tory strongly supports these\nunprecedented measures to save lives, protect health and give residents their\nlives back at the earliest possible date. The Mayor urged all residents to\nfollow the guidance of public health officials to reduce substantial loss of\nlife in Toronto, to protect the healthcare system, and to minimize the\nsignificant social and economic disruptions that will occur if new measures are\nnot taken, noting these new measures will require tremendous sacrifice by the\npeople of Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City is asking residents to adhere to\nthese orders and strong recommendations in the interest of public health and\nsafety. While informing and educating the public in understanding why these\nmeasures are important, additional orders could be issued by the Medical\nOfficer of Health, and in some cases, fines could be issued where there is\nnon-compliance. City bylaw enforcement officers and the Toronto Police Service\nwill work together to enforce the provincial Emergency Management and Civil\nProtection Act and the orders issued by the Medical Officer of Health under the\nHealth Protection and Promotion Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City of Toronto is compiling a\ncomprehensive list of resources and critical information to ensure businesses,\nthe city’s most vulnerable, community groups and the public are kept informed\nduring this unprecedented time. The City’s website is being updated and\nrevamped with new information, daily. A public information campaign, in\nmultiple languages, will help ensure a full understanding of what the public is\nbeing asked to do and, importantly, why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City’s Emergency Operations Centre\nremains fully activated at a Level 3 and will continue to respond and\ncoordinate all activities associated with keeping Toronto safe. City staff are\nworking in parallel on a recovery plan to ensure the City’s finances remain\nstable, as well as ensuring the stability of the Toronto Public Service. Later\nthis week, the City will provide an update on its finances and workforce\ndeployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By following the direction of public\nhealth officials and limiting COVID-19 exposure to essential and critical\nworkers that keep the city functioning, we can ensure that emergency services,\ngarbage collection, water, gas, electricity, public transportation, emergency\ndaycare, and support for our most vulnerable can continue to function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City’s website is updated daily with\nthe latest health advice, and information about City services and social\nsupports. Check https:\/\/www.toronto.ca\/covid-19\/<\/a> for\nanswers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health\nCOVID-19 Hotline or 311.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also reach me by telephone at\n416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n All my Best,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … <\/p>\n