Today, Mayor John Tory visited the newest COVID-19 testing site at Jenner Jean-Marie Community Centre in Thorncliffe Park, in advance of Monday’s opening of this location, to encourage residents with symptoms to get tested.
To slow the spread of COVID-19 in Toronto, the City of Toronto is supporting provincial testing efforts by providing various locations for pop-up testing in areas across the city. Between October 3 and January 7, the City will have hosted 128 COVID-19 testing clinics at 17 City-owned locations across Toronto.
The City’s facilities provide safe and optimal conditions for Public Health Ontario COVID-19 testing clinics as they are located within Toronto neighbourhoods, limiting a person’s need to travel outside of their community for testing. These locations also offer accessible space that allows for appropriate physical distancing as well as the unidirectional flow of people entering and exiting the building.
Toronto residents who suspect that they have symptoms of COVID-19 or who have come into contact with someone with a confirmed case of the virus are encouraged to get tested. A list of COVID-19 assessment locations throughout Toronto is available on the City’s website.
COVID-19 testing is one of the many protections that the City of Toronto has already implemented, which include sharing public health information and providing critical supports to individuals and their families. The City has recently announced an initiative to provide mobile testing in neighbourhoods with higher rates of the virus as well as providing more transportation to testing sites and extending testing site hours. The City is also continuing to provide relevant public education to residents and employers. Financial support is available for Toronto residents who test positive and are unable to work due to mandatory isolation. More information on financial support that is available for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 is at toronto.ca/Covid19IncomeSupport.
Everyone in Toronto should be adopting steps for self-protection. Individuals should 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.
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.
Quotes:
“Increased access to COVID-19 testing is one of the most important measures that we have to help stop the spread of this virus. By locating testing centres in City facilities in local neighbourhoods where health officials confirm they are needed, we can make it easier for people who may have contracted the virus to travel to the testing location, thereby helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our city.”
– Mayor John Tory
“By partnering and collaborating with other levels of government as well as community organizations, we’re able to react quickly and add testing clinics where they are needed, when they are needed. Together, we can help slow the current surge of this pandemic.”
– Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Don Valley East)
“Through the introduction of new clinics in City facilities, we are increasing access to testing where it’s needed most. The new testing site in the Jenner Jean-Marie Community Centre is the result of close collaboration between the City of Toronto and the local Thorncliffe Park community. Thank you to everyone involved in this important initiative.”
– Councillor Jaye Robinson (Don Valley West)
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