A key role of public health in the battle against COVID-19 is to use current evidence and local data to inform decisions about public health actions to keep residents safer as we live with COVID-19. Today, Toronto Public Health is pleased to launch enhancements to the COVID-19 data dashboard. This updated dashboard will provide more detailed information to help residents better understand how this virus is affecting our community.
There are 17,971 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 129 cases since yesterday. There are 40 people hospitalized, with 1 person in ICU. In total 15, 526 people have recovered from COVID-19, an increase of 87 cases since yesterday. To date, there have been 1,178 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform: https://www.toronto.ca/home/co
TPH received extensive feedback from residents and experts to improve the way that COVID-19 information is reported. The updates will help the public understand the local impact of COVID-19 in Toronto as the city faces a resurgence in cases and include:
• Daily updates on new cases and weekday updates on outbreaks to provide more current information on the local situation and help residents see how COVID-19 activity is changing in our city.
• More detailed weekly updates highlighting the data trends to be shared on Wednesdays. This will include additional graphs and figures to provide more insight into who is contracting COVID-19 in our community.
• A summary of active outbreaks has been expanded to include additional institutions such as schools and child care centres. TPH will list the specific institutions where an outbreak has been identified and is under investigation.
• TPH is also looking into addressing the Board of Health request at the September meeting to include a high-level summary of outbreaks in workplace settings at a later date. TPH will continue updating the dashboard as the local situation changes.
The City’s COVID-19 response is grounded by three key objectives: to prevent loss of life, preserve the capacity of the health system and minimize social, economic and broader health impacts. The COVID-19 monitoring dashboard also reports on key indicators of the COVID-19 response and health system capacity. Given the current resurgence in cases, this information is becoming even more critical to understanding how COVID19 is affecting our community and informing what public health actions are needed to keep residents safer. Since its launch on June 12, 2020, the monitoring dashboard has been viewed almost two million times.
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Check http://www.toronto.ca/covid-19
Quotes:
“Throughout the pandemic I have strongly supported Toronto Public Health providing as much information as possible to residents. The dashboard will help provide more details about how COVID-19 is impacting our city. This information and transparency is crucial so that people can understand this virus and how they can help us stop the spread. I look forward to public health continuing to provide greater details around COVID-19 in our community.”
– Mayor John Tory
“I’m pleased to share our updated our COVID-19 dashboard today informed by helpful feedback from the public and local experts. We know that many of the infections included on the dashboard are coming from the activities that people choose to do. While our numbers will always fluctuate, we are starting to see more case activity in our city. It’s not too late to reverse this trend. We must remain vigilant and continue to watch our distance, wear our masks, wash our hands often, avoid large gatherings and to keep taking care of each other.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
“Since January, we have relied on clear data and evidence to inform every step of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we are now seeing a resurgence of the virus, it’s more important than ever that everyone in our city has access to the latest information about cases and transmission, including information about where outbreaks are occurring. This knowledge is key to helping us take precautions and adapt our behaviour in order to protect ourselves and each other.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York), Chair of Toronto Board of Health
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 http://www.toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/CityofT
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