TORONTO – COVID-19 Update: Toronto Mayor John Tory, Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, and Matthew Pegg, the general manager of Toronto’s Office of Emergency Management provide an update on the city’s response to COVID-19.
The City of Toronto reports there are 41,570 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 643 new cases today. There are 249 people hospitalized. To date, there have been 1,603 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. In total, 35,193 people have recovered from COVID-19.
Over the weekend, the City’s COVID-19 enforcement team continued to monitor compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act.
The team inspected 130 bars and restaurants and found a 98.5 per cent compliance rate with provincial regulations. Only two food and drink establishments were found to be non-compliant and appropriate enforcement action was taken. Enforcement officers also visited malls – including on Black Friday – and found all malls to be complying with provincial restrictions. In response to complaints relating to gatherings on private property, one ticket and two notices were issued under the Reopening Ontario Act.
All people in Toronto should be adopting steps for self-protection. Dr. 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 to people 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.
