The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. The City recognizes that this Victoria Day weekend is different for Torontonians and appreciates the continued cooperation of individuals in following provincial orders restricting gatherings of more than five people who are not members of the same household and public health recommendations for physical distancing when leaving the house.
To prevent crowding and gathering, the City cancelled all major events, including the annual Victoria Day fireworks. To keep spirits up and help healthy residents remain physically active and get out of the house, this week, Mayor John Tory announced Quiet Streets, plus major road closures, as part of the ActiveTO program to provide more space for people to be physically active and improve physical distancing.
Major Victoria Day weekend road closures began yesterday at 6 a.m. and will end tomorrow, Monday, May 18 at 11 p.m.:
• Lake Shore Boulevard West, from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road (eastbound lanes only)
• Bayview Avenue from Mill Street to Rosedale Valley Road, as well as the portion of River Street from north of Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue (full closure)
As of this morning, the eastbound Gardiner Expressway exit for Lake Shore Boulevard is also closed until tomorrow evening. The list of Quiet Streets is available at toronto.ca/activeTO and will be updated when locations are added.
Physical distancing remains crucial as Toronto Public Health continues to report new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto. There are 8,511 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 125 cases since yesterday. There are 421 cases in hospital, with 87 in ICU. In total, 6,361 cases are resolved, an increase of 172 cases since yesterday. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform at toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/covid-19-status-of-cases-in-toronto.
While healthy residents are encouraged to get fresh air and exercise, provincial orders and the City bylaw on physical distancing remain in effect, requiring people who are not from the same household to maintain a physical distance of two metres in a park or public square and not use park amenities. The City’s coordinated COVID-19 Enforcement Team is continuing their important work across the city, educating residents on the bylaw and provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act orders.
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Check toronto.ca/covid-19 for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at facebook.com/cityofto.