The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. 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, an increase of 789 new cases today. There are 421 people hospitalized. In total, 61,839 people have recovered from COVID-19. To date, there have been 2,098 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.
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. Once that clarity is received, staff will review the provincial regulations and update the full list of impacts to City operations on the COVID-19: Changes to City Services webpage.
Mayor Tory today stressed that the City’s fundamental message to all residents remains: stay home. Staying home is the best way 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 not 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:
More information on the new provincial regulations is available in the Province’s news release.
Please review the City’s simple “Dos” and “Don’ts” guide for recommended and mandatory public health measures. The guide communicates what is, and what is not, permitted under the provincial Lockdown Regulation that remains in effect and the new stay-at-home order to help stop the spread of COVID-19: toronto.ca/lockdownguide.
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