The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. Today, 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 provided an update on measures to gradually reopen City amenities and the Team Toronto effort to vaccinate people as quickly as possible.
Since June 4, there have been 394 new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto – a daily average of 131 new cases. There are 713 people hospitalized. To date, there have been 3,421 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. In total, 162,119 people have recovered. Case status data can be found on Toronto Public Health’s reporting dashboard: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/c
Between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. today, 42,491 COVID-19 vaccine appointments have been successfully booked for City-operated immunization clinics.
Today, the City shared plans for summer day camps in parks and reopening park services and amenities, including water fountains. There are more than 700 water fountains in Toronto parks, which typically operate between spring and fall. Throughout the pandemic, the only fountains that have been operating have been those attached to open washrooms, in order to accommodate the twice daily cleaning recommended by Toronto Public Health.
There are currently approximately 200 fountains open in Toronto. Given the hot weather and the public health considerations related to access to water, the City consulted with Toronto Public Health and confirmed, while the guidance around twice daily cleanings stands, the City can now proceed to open the remaining fountains with a risk mitigation approach that includes signage advising residents that the fountains are not cleaned and appropriate health measures, such as hand hygiene and the use of bottles rather than drinking directly from the fountain.
Since fountains have not been operating since 2019 and as potable water assets, must be tested before being activated. Staff are beginning this work this week.
Today, the Province announced all of Ontario will enter Step One of the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen on Friday, June 11 at 12:01 a.m.: https://www.ontario.ca/page/re
• Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 10 people
• Outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres
• Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services up to 15 per cent capacity of the particular room
• Non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold
• Essential and other select retail at 25 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold
• Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households
• Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training with up to 10 people, among other restrictions
• Day camps for children operating in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
• Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites
• Short-term rentals
• Outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance with no more than 10 performers, among other restrictions
• Outdoor attractions such as zoos, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens with capacity and other restrictions
Read the Province’s “Ontario to Move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11” news release for more information: https://news.ontario.ca/en/rel
First dose vaccination appointments remain available for everyone age 12 and older at City-run immunization clinics. Accelerated second dose appointments are also available to anyone age 70 and older as well as individuals who received a first Pfizer or Moderna vaccination on April 18 or earlier. Appointments can be booked by residents through the dark blue “Book a Vaccine” button on www.toronto.ca/covid-19 or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900. Those seeking a vaccine appointment can also register and check availability with healthcare partners through https://vaccineto.ca/, local pharmacies or healthcare providers.
To easily connect to resources including vaccine appointment bookings, information on vaccines and upcoming telephone town halls, Toronto residents can text “VACCINE” to 1-833-750-0888 or 833-750-0888 for more information
SOURCE City of Toronto
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