TORONTO – The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. There were 789 new cases of the virus in Toronto today. 421 people have been hospitalized.
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 provided an update on the City’s measures to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto and local impacts of the Province of Ontario’s declaration of a second state of emergency and stay-at-home order.
Since the start of the pandemic there have been a total of 72,679 cases of COVID-19 in the city. In total, 61,839 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date, there have been 2,098 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto.
In response to increasing COVID-19 case counts, the Province of Ontario yesterday declared a second provincial state of emergency, issuing a province-wide stay-at-home order that will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, January 14, for 28 days. The new protections will impact City services and the City is seeking clarity from the Province, including details on enforcement and impacts on recreation activity.
Mayor Tory today stressed that the City’s fundamental message to all residents remains: stay home. Staying home is the best way to for people to keep themselves and loved ones from getting sick. As updated provincial regulations come into force, those with any doubt about what is and is permitted should stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
As announced, the new provincial order requires all people to remain at home at all times with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. The Province also added new restrictions under the Lockdown Regulations and provided new recommendations:
• Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are restricted to five people, with limited exceptions
• Individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations
• Wearing a mask or face covering is recommended outdoors when physical distancing is not possible
• All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 am and close no later than 8 pm.
• Construction not permitted as essential is shut down
