Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Wednesday:
Discussions ongoing to possibly ‘lock down even further’ over the holidays: Tory
Toronto Mayor John Tory says discussions are ongoing to possibly “lock down even further” over the holidays in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Tory said all residents must “do the right thing” and not gather over Christmas and New Year’s.
“Our public health officials in the different governments, including those in this region, are in discussion right now about this and whether we can use the holidays — a traditionally quieter time — to lock down even further,” Tory said Wednesday afternoon.
“This is something we’re already seeing in other jurisdictions, including right next door in the province of Quebec.”
Nelson Mandela Park Public 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 Nelson Mandela Park Public School, located on Shuter Street, for in-person classes as of Thursday until the end of winter break, which is on Jan. 4.
The news comes after the board announced Humber Summit Middle School, City Adult Learning Centre, Humewood Community School, R H McGregor Elementary School, David Lewis Public School, Grenoble Public School and Oakridge Junior Public School, Thorncliffe Park Public School, Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy and Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute would be closing under similar circumstances until Jan. 4.
Fran’s Restaurant location in Toronto closing
Fran’s Restaurant, a family-run Toronto business, has announced the Front Street location will be closing after a dispute with the property’s landlord.
The owners say they were hoping to get coronavirus-related financial assistance from the government after not being able to pay rent. They say they were served with an eviction notice telling them to be out of the location by Dec. 31.
The other two Fran’s locations aren’t affected by Wednesday’s announcement.
Global News Toronto has reached out to the landlord for comment and didn’t hear back as of Thursday night.
7 Markham firefighters test positive for coronavirus
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The City of Markham says seven firefighters have tested positive for coronavirus.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, it’s believed three firefighters contracted the virus at work and the other four contracted it outside of the unidentified fire station.
“All staff who have tested positive have been in self-isolation. None of the individuals who have tested positive to date had symptoms when they were at work,” the statement said.
“A third-party deep clean of the entire fire station was undertaken as a precaution and the City of Markham continues to follow all public health reporting and guidelines.
“We are confident the situation is now stable and poses no risk to staff or to our ability to serve the community.”
Global tech conference Collision moves Toronto event online in 2021 due to pandemic
Global technology conference Collision has cancelled plans to host its annual event in Toronto next year and instead will host the gathering online again.
Organizers sent emails to past conference attendees Wednesday saying they made the decision because of uncertainty due to pandemic.
This will be the second year the travelling conference has had to give up plans to stage the massive event in Toronto because of the health crisis.
Legal clinic asks Toronto’s top doctor to suspend evictions
A Toronto legal clinic has written to the city’s top doctor asking that she suspend residential evictions amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter issued Tuesday, Downtown Legal Services argues that evictions currently pose a public health risk.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 2,139 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
Of those:
- 780 were in Toronto
- 528 were in Peel Region
- 148 were in York Region
- 143 were in Durham Region
- 55 were in Halton Region
Ontario surpasses 4,000 coronavirus deaths, reports more than 2,100 new cases again
Ontario reported 2,139 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, marking the second highest single-day increase to date, bringing the provincial total to 146,535.
The death toll in the province has risen to 4,035 as 43 more deaths were reported.
Resolved cases increased by 2,043 from the previous day. The government said 49,189 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.
Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 2,442 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is an increase of 18 deaths.
There are 135 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 6,847 school-related COVID-19 cases in Ontario — 4,743 among students and 1,010 among staff (1,094 individuals were not identified). This is an increase of 223 more cases over a 24-hour period.
There have been a total of 1,159 confirmed cases within child care centres and homes — an increase of 35 (22 child cases and 13 staff cases.)
— With files from The Canadian Press
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