Here is a roundup of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Tuesday:
Status of COVID-19 cases in Toronto
According to the most recent data on the Toronto Public Health (TPH) website Tuesday evening, there were 1,152 active cases and 15,382 resolved cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday. TPH also reported 1,178 people died after contracting the virus.
Of the 33 residents currently in hospital, 11 were being treated in ICU.
Canada Post’s Etobicoke delivery centre closed on Tuesday due to 2 COVID-19 cases
A spokesperson for Canada Post says the corporation’s Etobicoke delivery centre was forced to close after two employees tested positive for coronavirus.
The spokesperson said Canada Post was notified on Monday that an employee at the building, located at 145 The West Mall, was diagnosed with COVID-19. The employee was last at work on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the spokesperson said a second employee in a different section of the building tested positive. They last worked on Friday.
“In both cases, the employees were exposed to the virus outside the workplace. We have no reason to believe there is any link between the two cases,” the statement said.
“A sanitization was done within the facility on Thursday following the first case and a sanitization was done again today as per our protocols.”
The closure meant delivery was suspended on Thursday to properties with postal codes beginning with M8V, M8W, M8X, M8Y, M8Z, M9A, M9B and M9C.
Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket eliminating 95 RN positions, hiring 49 RPNs
A spokesperson for Southlake Regional Health Centre says 95 registered nurse (RN) positions are being eliminated due to financial constraints.
“Similar to some other hospitals across the province, Southlake is currently facing a significant financial challenge and has announced a series of changes to address this while maintaining the same high-quality care that we provide to the communities we serve,” a statement issued on Tuesday said.
“Given the number of current and potential future clinical vacancies we have, we are hopeful to avoid any frontline involuntary employment loss at Southlake.”
The statement also said 34 management, administrative and clerical positions.
“Southlake is facing a substantial deficit which is unrelated to COVID-19 and predates the pandemic,” it said.
“These changes are aligned to the broader health-care system transformation underway in Ontario, which emphasizes moving care into the community where it is easier for patients and families to access.”
The statement said 49 registered practical nurse (RPN) positions will be added in addition to 29 “patient services partner” positions and three social worker positions.
The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) issued a statement on Tuesday in response to the news and said the cut represents approximately 176,000 hours of care provided by RNs will be lost.
“With the second wave of COVID-19 and the upcoming influenza season, which will put undue pressure on all hospitals, cutting registered nurses is completely irresponsible,” Vicki McKenna, president of the ONA, wrote.
“The hospital cites its budget as the reason for the cuts and, if this is so, then the government needs to immediately step in and do an audit and prevent these layoffs from happening.”
Laser Quest shuts down, citing coronavirus pandemic
Laser Quest locations in Canada are closing due to the pandemic, according to a statement by the company.
“As much as we wanted to re-open, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting uncertain economic climate have made the continued operation of Laser Quest North America next to impossible,” the statement issued on Tuesday said while thanking customers for their patronage.
“Over the past 27 years Laser Quest has brought fun to life with countless birthday parties, day camp and youth group events, plus numerous corporate and educational outings.”
478 new COVID-19 cases in Ontario
Ontario is reporting 478 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 47,752.
Tuesday’s case count marks the highest one-day increase since May 2. Ontario cases have been on the upward trend over the last couple weeks.
According to Tuesday’s provincial report, 153 new cases were recorded in Toronto, 95 in Peel Region, 90 in Ottawa, 27 in both York Region and Waterloo, and 16 in Durham Region.
All other public health units in Ontario reported 15 or fewer cases.
Ontario child care centres and schools
Meanwhile, government figures show there have been a total of 141 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario — 59 among students and 33 among staff (49 individuals were not identified). This is an increase of 51 more cases since the previous day.
The COVID-19 cases are currently from 116 out of 4,828 schools in the province.
Affected schools are in Toronto, Oakville, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Milton, Waterloo, Brantford, Welland, Ancaster, Balmertown, Niagara Falls, Barrie, Orillia, Amherstburg, Cambridge, Thornhill, Maple, Woodbridge, Vaughan, Markham, Ottawa, Kemptville, Kingsville, Elmira, and Pembroke.
Two schools in Ontario are closed as a result of positive cases, the government indicated.
There have been a total of 95 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 15 more since the previous day.
TDSB hiring teachers to accommodate demand for online learning
The Toronto District School Board says it is drawing on its pool of supply teachers as it rushes to meet a surge in demand for online learning.
The TDSB says it hired 300 teachers Monday and was working today to bring on another 200 to fulfil its staffing needs for online elementary school classes.
Spokesman Ryan Bird says the board anticipates the hiring will be complete in the next few days so the virtual classes can be set up by the end of the week.
READ MORE: TDSB turning to supply teachers as it rushes to hire for online classes
— With files from The Canadian Press