Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Monday:
Ontario’s 1st COVID-19 vaccination administered in Toronto
Ontario has administered the provinces’ first COVID-19 vaccination to a health-care worker from a Toronto nursing home.
Anita Quidangen, a personal support worker at the Rekai Centre, received the first dose at a hospital in the city, the province said.
She was among a group of five workers from the nursing home getting immunized Monday at the University Health Network.
Toronto’s Humber Summit Middle School temporarily closing
The Toronto District School Board has announced the additional closure of a school until early January due to an investigation of COVID-19 cases.
The TDSB said Toronto Public Health advised closing Humber Summit Middle School, located on Pearldale Avenue, for in-person classes as of Tuesday until the end of winter break, which is on Jan. 4.
The news comes a day after the board announced City Adult Learning Centre, Humewood Community School, R H McGregor Elementary School, David Lewis Public School, Grenoble Public School and Oakridge Junior Public School would be closing under similar circumstances until Jan. 4.
Thorncliffe Park Public School, Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy and Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute were previously ordered closed until the new year.
Over 30 tickets issued at private gatherings in Mississauga over the weekend
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Over 30 tickets were handed out at private gatherings in Mississauga over the weekend, city officials say.
In a news release issued Monday, officials said a total of 37 tickets were issued, 33 of which were given to people at private gatherings at four separate locations.
Four tickets were issued to non-essential businesses.
Superior Court suspends jury trials until February
Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice has suspended jury trials in most parts of the province until February.
The suspension applies everywhere except in regions designated “green” under Ontario’s COVID-19 pandemic response plan.
Toronto barbecue restaurant where protests occurred allowed to reopen for takeout
The City of Toronto has announced Adamson Barbecue restaurant in Etobicoke, the site of anti-mask and anti-lockdown protests in November, has been allowed to reopen for takeout and delivery.
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Adam Skelly, the owner of Adamson Barbecue, is currently facing several criminal charges after repeatedly breaking health regulations imposed by Toronto and Ontario.
Police said on Nov. 26 they had changed the locks of the restaurant in the morning after Toronto’s medical officer of health said the establishment must be closed under several health and safety regulations.
“On Dec. 4, the Province of Ontario sought and received a restraining order against Adamson Barbeque, its owner, and other agents, restraining them from contravening the Lockdown Regulation under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA). The Lockdown Regulation prohibits indoor and outdoor dining. That restraining order remains in place, ” a statement issued by the City of Toronto on Monday said.
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“The lifting of the requirements of the Section 22 (Health Protection and Promotion Act) order would permit the Adamson Etobicoke location to open for takeout, delivery, or drive through only as allowed for under the Lockdown Regulation, subject to compliance with the City of Toronto’s business licensing bylaw and passing a DineSafe inspection.
“Should that location defy the restraining order and the Lockdown Regulation and open for indoor and/or outdoor dining, the owner, the business, and/or its employees and agents could face contempt of court findings.”
The statement also noted Adamson Barbecue “remain in violation” of the City of Toronto’s business bylaw on licensing requirements.
“The City of Toronto’s Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) has written to the owner of Adamson Barbecue warning that he must comply with all relevant laws, including zoning and business licensing bylaws, and that failure to comply ‘may place your future business licence status in jeopardy,'” the statement said.
“The letter also advised that the owner is “prohibited from carrying on the businesses unless and until he has a valid licence.”
Ontario no longer offering free COVID-19 tests for international travel
The Ontario government says COVID-19 tests will no longer be free for people requiring proof of a negative test for international travel destinations.
“Effective Dec. 11, 2020, individuals requesting a COVID-19 test for international travel clearance are no longer eligible for a publicly funded COVID-19 test in Ontario,” the government said in a news release.
Ontario said if a COVID-19 test is required for travel clearance, travellers should look at private testing facilities, such as a travel clinic, for a fee.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 1,940 new coronavirus cases on Monday.
Of those:
- 544 were in Toronto
- 390 were in Peel Region
- 191 were in York Region
- 68 were in Durham Region
- 64 were in Halton Region
1,940 new COVID-19 cases, 23 more deaths in Ontario
Ontario reported 1,940 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, marking the second highest single-day increase, to bring the provincial total to 142,121.
The death toll in the province has risen to 3,972 as 23 more deaths were reported.
Resolved cases increased by 1,535 from the previous day. The government said 57,091 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.
Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 2,400 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is an increase of nine deaths.
There are 137 current outbreaks in homes, an increase of one from the previous day.
Ontario child care centres and schools
Government figures show there have been a total of 6,356 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario — 4,330 among students and 935 among staff (1,091 individuals were not identified). This is an increase of 137 cases.
There have been a total of 1,069 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 25 (14 child cases and 11 staff cases.)
— With files from The Canadian Press
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