Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Tuesday:
Toronto’s Porter Airlines extends flight suspension to Dec. 15
Toronto’s Porter Airlines says it is once again extending its flight suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic to Dec. 15.
The airline previously had a target resuming date of Nov. 12.
“We want to see our planes in the sky as soon as possible and are actively working to prepare for our resumption of service. However, the ongoing uncertainty presented by government travel restrictions, including border closures, is impacting our ability to operate flights,” a statement from the airline read.
The airline has suspended service since March 21.
Toronto Public Health conducts inspections over Thanksgiving long weekend
Toronto Public Health conducted 46 inspections over the long weekend at restaurants, bars, shopping malls and hookah establishments, the city said in a press release Tuesday.
In total, sixteen warning letters and two charges were laid.
Toronto police issued four charges to a restaurant for not abiding by the seat limit — six maximum at a table, not ensuring distancing, not ensuring that customers were sitting down and for exceeding venue capacity.
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The City said it responded to 30 complaints for “large gatherings,” and 11 warning letters and two charges were issued.
Finally, the City said it extinguished 80 bonfires around the waterfront and that eight tickets were given out, as well.
https://twitter.com/bradrossTO/status/1316095843963940864?s=20
Calls for mental health supports grow in Toronto as pandemic continues
Calls for mental health referrals have been on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic, especially in recent months, leading to concerns for how demand will grow during a cold and isolating winter on the way.
211 is a free service that helps connect people to social services both on the phone and online. Call volumes related to mental health and addictions to the service were already significantly up at the beginning of 2020 and the pandemic has seen those numbers continue to rise higher than previous years.
School boards cancel exams
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The Toronto District School Board says students will not be given final exams.
“The Ministry of Education has informed school boards that they have the option of removing designated exam days from their school year calendar and using them for in-class instructional time,” a TDSB statement read.
“Given the exceptional circumstance with the pandemic and the complexities of running exams in both a virtual and in-person setting, the TDSB has chosen to cancel exams for quadmesters 1 and 2 and will be basing final marks on coursework and in-class end of quadmester assessment of learning.”
The Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board told Global News the board will also not be issuing final exams and will instead grade final projects.
GTHA mayors call for ‘clear public health message’ for Halloween
Mayors from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area say they’re looking to the provincial government for a clear message regarding Halloween.
Their requests were detailed in a statement after the mayors’ weekly call on Tuesday to discuss their ongoing responses to the pandemic.
“Looking ahead to Halloween, now less than three weeks away, the mayors and chairs will strongly advocate for one clear public health message, preferably coming from the province, by the end of this week,” the statement read.
“In the meantime, medical officers of health in these municipalities will work to forge such a common position for discussion with the province and we will shortly provide the province with a summary of some of the points which arose in our discussion today.”
Ontario reports 807 new coronavirus cases Thanksgiving Monday, 746 Tuesday
Ontario is reporting 807 new cases of coronavirus for Thanksgiving Monday and 746 cases on Tuesday — totaling 1,553 cases in 48 hours. The total cumulative number of cases now stands at 60,692.
The provincial government did not release numbers on Monday due to the holiday and instead released two sets of data on Tuesday.
According to Monday’s provincial report, 303 new cases were recorded in Toronto, 159 in Peel Region, 119 in Ottawa, 56 in York Region, 34 in Hamilton and 29 in Middlesex-London. All other public health units in Ontario reported under 25 new cases.
According to Tuesday’s provincial report, 311 new cases were recorded in Toronto, 135 in Peel Region, 116 in Ottawa, 42 in York Region and 29 in Halton Region. All other public health units in Ontario reported under 25 new cases.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said — combining both days — more than 67,700 tests were processed in the last 48 hours.
The death toll in the province has risen to 3,017 as 12 more deaths were reported, three on Monday and nine on Tuesday. Resolved cases increased by 1,292 in two days — 668 on Monday, 624 on Tuesday.
Ontario child care centres and schools
Meanwhile, government figures show there have been a total of 948 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario — 531 among students and 157 among staff (260 individuals were not identified). This is an increase of 72 more cases from the previous day.
In the last 14 days, the province indicates there are 390 cases reported among students and 100 cases among staff (171 individuals were not identified) — totaling 661 cases.
The COVID-19 cases are currently from 436 out of 4,828 schools in the province. Three schools in Ontario are currently closed as a result of positive cases, the government indicated.
There have been a total of 246 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 10 since the previous day (five new child cases and five new staff cases).
Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 1,891 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario, which is remains unchanged in the last 48 hours. Eight health-care workers and staff in long-term care homes have died.
There are 66 current outbreaks in homes, a decrease of three.
The ministry also indicated there are currently 157 active cases among long-term care residents and 210 active cases among staff — up by two and four cases respectively in the last day.
— With files from Matthew Bingley
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