April 6 - Update

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

It is critical to ensure that the food needs of vulnerable Torontonians are being met during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The City of Toronto is working with community and corporate partners to implement emergency food access for vulnerable residents. If you are able to do so, please donate non-perishable items to food banks or drop off donations at local fire halls. If you are in need of support, please dial 2-1-1 or view a map of local service providers at https://covid19.211central.ca/. To find out more about the programs that the City is working with and how you can help, please read this news release.

If you are interested in volunteering, please register with www.volunteertoronto.ca or www.sparkontario.ca. 

Please be advised that grocery stores are anticipating that this upcoming Thursday and Saturday will be very busy and ask people to limit shopping on these days. General advice for grocery shopping remains: 

• Grocery shop only one day per week and buy only what you need for up to two weeks

• Respect store hours dedicated to seniors, vulnerable persons, and essential service workers (normally the first hour stores are open)

• Have a list of items, shop efficiently, and do not casually browse

• Do not touch food or products you are not intending to buy

• Practise physical distancing

• When possible, pay with a card or phone tap rather than cash

I’d like to remind residents that yard waste pick-up has temporarily resumed today until Friday, April 17. Previous communications from Solid Waste included messaging to use bags instead of open containers. I have received a lot of questions from residents about why open containers cannot be used and have reached out to Solid Waste Management to clarify this. After further consideration, we now encourage residents to use yard waste bags if possible. Otherwise a rigid open-top container can be used. Please bring yard waste to the curb by 7 AM on your regular pick-up day.

Please see below for a roundup of key information to know today. 

Sincerely,

Frances Nunziata

__________________________

Toronto Public Health survey

Toronto Public Health wants to learn how COVID-19 is moving through the community, to provide an indication of how well public health measures are working and help determine next steps. Residents who believe they have COVID-19 symptoms can help Toronto Public Health understand where Toronto is on the 'curve' of the epidemic by completing the survey at toronto.ca/flattenthecurve.

People looking to confirm if they are eligible for testing or if they need to seek further care should use the Ontario Ministry of Health's Self-Assessment tool. In a medical emergency, people should seek medical attention immediately and call 911.

Toronto Community Housing offering rent adjustments

Toronto Community Housing is offering rent adjustments and deferrals to tenants who have lost income during this difficult time so they can maintain their housing. For application tips and guides, please click here.

To ask for a rent adjustment or a deferral, tenants need to fill out a form and return it to TCHC. Tenants can obtain the form by:

• Calling the 24-hour Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500

• Sending an email to help@torontohousing.ca

• Downloading the forms at torontohousing.ca/covid-19

• Watching for a package TCHC is mailing to all households

Spring Parks, Forestry and Recreation programming and permit cancellations

Spring programs and permits for the period of April 6 to June 29 are cancelled, following the continued closure of community recreation and parks facilities. All Park, Forestry & Recreation permits for farmers markets up to June 29 are postponed and allotment and community gardens are closed. Refunds or credits will be issued for cancelled permits and programs. Although Park, Forestry & Recreation’s customer service call centre is closed, permit holders and program registrants can contact pfrcustomerservice@toronto.ca.

City of Toronto urges residents to adapt faith-based holiday observances during COVID-19 pandemic

In the coming weeks, people across our city will be observing Passover, Easter, and the start of Ramadan. Normally an opportunity to spend time with family and faith-based communities, the City urges everyone to continue to follow provincial orders closing places of worship and limiting gatherings as well as the public health recommendations to remain at home, leaving only for essential reasons. The holidays are important spiritually and emotionally for many and to support this people are encouraged to connect with loved ones, friends, and vulnerable members of the community online or by phone. Residents should also check with their place of worship for information on online services and other innovative ways to connect while staying physically apart.

Postponement of hearings at Committee of Adjustment, Local Planning Appeal Tribunal & Toronto Local Appeal Body

The Government of Ontario has passed an Emergency Order (O. Reg 73/20) that suspends legislative and procedural time periods for all Planning Act procedural timelines. This applies to the Committee of Adjustment, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) and Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB). The suspension is retroactive to March 16, 2020, and will expire when Ontario’s declaration of emergency ends or in 90 days, whichever comes first, unless the Order is renewed. 

The LPAT has issued directions regarding current appeal proceedings which can be viewed here. The Tribunal will not schedule any in-person hearing events while this Emergency Order is in effect. Further all hearing events scheduled in the Tribunal’s hearing calendar between the effective date of the Emergency Order and June 30, 2020, will be adjourned to a future date. 

The TLAB has suspended and will not schedule any hearing events, including in-person, or teleconference hearings for the period between March 16, 2020 and May 29, 2020. Also all hearing events scheduled in the TLAB’s hearing calendar, with the exception of written matters and variance matters only where agreed to be heard electronically will be adjourned to a future date TLAB public offices are closed at 40 Orchard View Blvd. All hearings are postponed and a notice of the new hearing date will be provided by the tribunal at a future date.

Physical distancing enforcement blitz ramps up across Toronto 

Since March 24, Municipal Licensing & Standards has responded to 407 complaints and issued 34 notices for failure to comply with the Province’s orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Toronto Police Services has issued tickets to 21 people for non-compliance, summonses to two businesses, and nine notices for failure to comply with provincial orders.

Toronto Public Health has, since March 24, attended 409 bars and restaurants that were identified as non-compliant. Of the bars and restaurants, 162 were closed and 18 warning letters were issued for premises non-complaint with the dine-in prohibition. Toronto Public Health has also attended 109 Personal Service Settings (nail salons, hair dressers, etc.), closing 105 and issuing four warning letters.

311 and access to information

The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services and social supports. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the 311 or Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline. 

311 is available 24/7 by telephone for essential service inquiries and service requests. Those calling 311 should expect longer than usual wait times as 311 continues to receive a high volume of calls. 

• 311 (within city limits)

• 416-392-2489 (outside of city limits)

• 416-338-0889 (TTY)

Please note, email and social media accounts are not being monitored and the 311 Knowledge Base and online service requests are not available. 

Data

As of today, the City’s Emergency Operations Centre has been mobilized for 25 days, working with Toronto Public Health, City divisions, and emergency responders to slow the spread of the virus and keep our community safe and healthy. 

• Toronto Public Health is reporting there are now 1026 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, an increase of 101 cases from yesterday. 

• Of the cases, 823 cases are confirmed and 203 are probable, 66 cases have recovered, 125 are in hospital with 53 in ICU. 

• In Toronto, there have been 25 deaths to-date. 

• Community spread is responsible for 27 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Toronto.

This data was extracted from the Integrated Public Health Information System at 12:30 PM today. The numbers may differ from other sources as data are extracted at different times.

For the latest updates from the Federal Government, please click here. 

For the latest updates from the Province of Ontario, please click here.