Corporate COVID-19 partnerships with the City of Toronto

Toronto Mayor John Tory called on businesses to support local communities this afternoon. The Mayor’s request comes as a result of a decrease in the ability of many local service providers to support vulnerable residents with food delivery and foodbank services.

Mayor Tory noted that more than 40 per cent of food bank programs have closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto. However, he thanked many corporate partners for stepping in to make donations to ensure vulnerable residents continue to have access to food.

In response, the city has designated a number of libraries, community centres and Toronto Community Housing buildings as foodbanks. Public library staff have stepped up to help prepare food for distribution to these centres.

Companies who wish to make contributions or support Toronto’s food supply and delivery efforts can visit www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19 for more information.

Toronto long-term care monitoring

Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa provided updated figures on COVID-19 infections in Toronto. As of 1:00 p.m. today, there are 1,301 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto. Of these cases, 135 are confirmed in long-term care and retirement homes of which 15 have resulted in death.

The Medical Officer of Health discussed the risks of removing loved ones from long-term care and advised that any decision should only be considered after consulting with the appropriate long-term care directors and understand the needs of the induvial.

In response to the long-term care issue, the Medical Officer of Health reinforced the strict protocols that are in place, which include: staff being directed to work in only one setting, staff being screened when they enter and leave, all residents being monitored closely and checked twice a day for symptoms and those with symptoms are isolated, increased physical distancing and hand washing and guests and staff needing to wear appropriate protective equipment.

Toronto COVID-19 enforcement activities

Over the weekend, Toronto’s COVID-19 enforcement team interreacted with 2,480 individuals. The team, which is comprised of City of Toronto officials, Toronto Public Health and Toronto Police Service conducted enforcement activities across 300 parks and public spaces. These areas were patrolled to uphold provincial orders and by-laws.

Proactive conversations were initiated, and enforcement resulted in 26 tickets, 976 cautions, 55 parking tags and two towed vehicles. By-law Officers responded to 346 park complaints and three tickets, three written cations and 196 verbal cautions were issued.

Since March 24, 2020, Toronto Public Health has visited 509 restaurants and bars that were considered not in compliance with orders and by-laws. Of these 173 were closed and 21 warnings were issued for not being in compliance with dine-in/out regulations. Further, 1234 personal service settings have been visited, in which 120 were closed and four warning letters were issued.