Toronto Mayor John Tory has announced the enforcement of enhanced physical distancing measures to effectively combat the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in the city. With the number of positive cases increasing in the state, the city has decided to extend the physical distancing rules for another 12 weeks.
#CityofTO taking unprecedented action to stop #COVID19, save lives, the healthcare system and the economy. News release: https://t.co/wx6cne8igc pic.twitter.com/WSAAxE0Iku
— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) April 1, 2020
According to a news release issued by the city, the following measures will be effective immediately until the next 12 weeks:
- All individuals with coronavirus are ordered by the Medical Officer of Health to stay home, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act for 14 days
- All individuals who have had close contact with someone who has coronavirus are also ordered to stay home by the Medical Officer of Health for 14 days
- Anyone who is not ill or has not travelled, is strongly directed to stay home except for the following reasons:
- accessing healthcare or medication
- shop for groceries once per week
- walk their dogs
- get daily exercise while maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres
- People returning from international travel must stay home, already a federal order
- Anyone over the age of 70, as the province announced this week, is strongly encouraged to stay home as much as possible
- Increased supports for self-isolation for those experiencing homelessness
- Only essential businesses remain open, and those businesses maximize physical distancing and infection prevention and control practices, and limit in-person access to those businesses, as much as possible
- Increased cleaning and active screening of employees at all businesses.
As of today, the total number of confirmed (or probable cases) in Ontario stands at 2,581, and the disease has claimed 65 lives to date.
