To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the City of Toronto’s COVID-19 Enforcement Team – a partnership between Toronto Police Service and the City – continues to carry out stricter enforcement in parks across the city. Toronto Public Health is also educating essential businesses on physical distancing, cleaning and disinfection on their premises.
Toronto Public Health is reporting there are now 2,362 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto. Of the cases, 2088 cases are confirmed and 274 are probable, 210 are in hospital with 80 in ICU. In Toronto, there have been 92 deaths to-date. This data was extracted from the Integrated Public Health Information System at 12:30 p.m. The numbers may differ from other sources as data are extracted at different times. The most up-to-date COVID-19 case status data can be found on the City’s new reporting platform at https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/media-room/covid-19-status-of-cases-in-toronto/.
The City’s Enforcement Team is focused on stricter enforcement in City parks and squares. This weekend, the team moved from issuing warnings to almost exclusively issuing tickets in order to convey the seriousness of the City’s measures and increase compliance.
Yesterday, Municipal Licensing & Standards (MLS) officers issued 40 tickets for the use of closed park amenities and not practising physical distancing. This brings the total to 107 tickets issued over the long weekend, which accounts for 56 per cent of the total tickets issued since April 4. Any two people who don’t live together, who fail to keep two metres of distance between them in a park or public square, can receive a $1,000 ticket – the maximum set fine available.
While officers reported lighter use of some busy parks this weekend, tickets were issued for using park amenities such as lingering on Muskoka chairs and benches. Individuals who need to physically rest while out on walk are permitted to use benches to recover, however lingering and use of benches beyond necessary resting purposes is prohibited.
In an effort to stop the community spread of this deadly virus, Toronto Public Health is visiting essential businesses to provide these open businesses with advice, recommendations, and instructions on physical distancing, cleaning, and disinfection. These visits are currently for education purposes to raise awareness of the important practises essential businesses must take to help protect workers and patrons as a result of orders under the Province of Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services and social supports. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
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