October 9, 2020: The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19.
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa recommends individuals only consider leaving their homes for essential activities such as work, education and fresh air and exercise.
As much as possible, residents are asked to limit contact with people not in the same household, keep at least six feet apart from people not in the same household and wear a mask when outside of their homes, especially in indoor settings and when physical distancing is difficult.
Residents should wash hands frequently and remain at home when ill.
This evening, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, headed by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, hosted a webinar on “Briefing on Recent Developments on COVID-19” with Dr. Eileen De Villa, City of Toronto Medical Officer of Health, as the main speaker.
Earlier today, Mayor John Tory, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg announced new orders and regulations designed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The City’s measures aim to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto.
The orders, which come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, set private and organized gathering limits at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, prohibit indoor food and drink service in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, limit capacity for certain activities, and prohibit games and scrimmages for sports teams.
Wedding receptions may proceed this weekend, but are suspended as of October 13.
The new orders will be in place for at least 28 days.
The Province’s announcement includes the closure of:
- Indoor gyms and fitness centres
- Casinos, bingo halls, and gaming establishments
- Cinemas
- Performing arts centres and venues
- Interactive exhibits and exhibits with a high risk of person contact in museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, etc.
Personal care services requiring the removal of masks or face coverings are also prohibited. The capacity for tour and guide services, real estate open houses, some in-person teaching and instruction (i.e. cooking classes), and in meeting and event spaces has been set at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Sports teams are limited to training sessions, with no games or scrimmages allowed.
There are 21,919 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 350 new cases today. There are 95 people hospitalized. In total, 18,204 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date, there have been 1,313 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto.
Toronto Public Health also encourages residents to download the COVID ALERT APP , which can help to notify individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 in the community.
Under the Province of Ontario’s Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, all private and organized gatherings in Toronto are now limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. This applies to social gatherings in private residences, backyards, parks and other recreational areas for parties, dinners, barbecues and wedding receptions.
Fines for individual organizers of events that violate gathering rules are a minimum of $10,000; fines for those attending are $750. Additionally, fines for violating provincial orders can range from a ticket of $750 up to a maximum of $100,000, including up to one year in jail, and $10,000,000 for a corporation.
The City’s COVID-19 enforcement team continues to respond to complaints and enforce provincial orders and bylaws across the city, including in bars, restaurants and parks. Yesterday, the City received 17 complaints related to parks use and physical distancing, 63 complaints related to businesses and four complaints related to gatherings on private property. Officers issued five notices to businesses, one ticket related to parks use, and three notices related to gatherings on private property.
-Compiled by Far West Herald, October 9, 2020