The City of Toronto is reminding all residents to follow all provincial regulations, City bylaws and public health advice this weekend to help protect against the spread of COVID-19. All people in Toronto should limit non-essential travel, wear a mask, maintain physical distancing by staying two metres apart from anyone they do not live with and get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
The City is working to ensure parks and beaches remain open and accessible for the vast majority of Toronto residents who are following the rules and want to safely enjoy outdoor spaces.
Toronto Police and City bylaw officers will be monitoring parks and beaches, focusing on areas that continue to experience high volumes of people and issues. Bylaw officers are working as hard as they can to monitor and respond to complaints but are not emergency responders. There are more than 1,500 parks, as well as beaches in Toronto. Everyone needs to respect the rules and do their part to protect pubic health and safety.
Residents are reminded to properly dispose of waste in the bins provided or take it home with them so everyone can enjoy Toronto’s outdoor spaces. There are more than 10,000 litter bins across Toronto. Bins in heavily used parks will be emptied each morning and the City has increased service to bins along the waterfront. Additional staff will also be out in the mornings to pick up litter. Any overflowing bins or litter hotspots should be reported to 311.
The City and Toronto Police Service are aware of illegal beach gatherings that have been held, as well as one being advertised for this weekend. These events are against the Reopening Ontario Act, as well as several City bylaws and will be enforced. Fireworks in parks and beaches, as well as bonfires, are not permitted and pose a significant risk to public safety and the safety of first responders.
Bylaw enforcement officers will be monitoring these areas together with Toronto Police. Toronto Police will disrupt and disperse crowds and lay charges, when warranted.
Parking lots at Marie Curtis, Humber Bay East, Humber Bay West, Bluffer’s Park and Beach, and Cherry Beach will be closed nightly at 7 p.m. and will reopen in the morning. Parking enforcement will also have a presence, tagging and towing illegally parked vehicles.
The City encourages people to safely and responsibly enjoy the city this weekend, recognizing that the vast majority of Torontonians are following public health guidelines and provincial orders designed to protect people from the transmission of COVID-19.
There are 280 new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto today. Since the start of the pandemic there have been a total of 166,256 cases of COVID-19. There are 909 people hospitalized. To date, there have been 3,362 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. In total, 157,970 people have recovered. Case status data can be found on Toronto Public Health’s reporting dashboard.
For the current wave of COVID-19 in Toronto, amplified by variants of concern, staying home and following public health guidance is the best way to keep everyone safe. Please review the City’s COVID-19: Guide for Residents for public health guidance and information on what is and is not permitted under provincial regulations and City bylaws.
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 the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.