News Release
May 5, 2020

Mayor John Tory, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa, and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg, today, provided an update on the City’s continuing response to COVID-19.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon, there are 6,448 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto. Cases include 5,809 confirmed cases and 639 probable cases. There are 394 cases hospitalized, with 105 in intensive care units. We continue to see COVID-19 deaths; to date, 469 people in Toronto have died from COVID-19. 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.

Today, Dr. de Villa explained preliminary findings suggesting COVID-19 may be disproportionately affecting certain people in our city. Toronto Public Health preliminary analysis suggests that people living in areas that have the highest proportion of low income earners, recent immigrants and high unemployment rates had higher rates of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

To better understand and strengthen capacity to address these issues, Toronto Public Health is adding socio-demographic questions to the case and contract tracing management process. Beginning soon, staff will be asking all people who test positive for COVID-19 about their race, income, household size, Indigenous identity, and First Nation status.

Education and enforcement remain essential to keeping our community safe. Enforcement of the City’s physical distancing bylaw and the Province’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act orders is ongoing. Complaints related to non-essential businesses remaining open have fallen, with only 20 complaints yesterday. No tickets or notices were issued yesterday for the operation of a non-essential business. Toronto Public Health continues to visit essential businesses to provide advice, recommendations and instruction on physical distancing, cleaning, and disinfection to protect workers and patrons.

Complaints involving people gathering, using outdoor amenities or not practising physical distancing in parks or squares continue, with the City receiving 163 complaints about use of amenities and lack of physical distancing in parks or squares and 21 complaints related to gatherings yesterday. Municipal Licensing & Standards and Toronto Police Service officers issued 10 tickets for behaviour in parks. This month, bylaw and police officers have spoken to almost 1,124 people in City parks about the closures and public health measures. For the most part, where officers have spoken to park goers, people have responded positively to education about public health recommendations and willingly
adjusted their behaviour.

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.

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