Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Tuesday.
Staff begin work stoppage due to COVID-19 safety concerns at Toronto special needs school
Support staff at a special needs school in Toronto have begun a work stoppage after expressing their concern for a lack of COVID-19 safety precautions.
In a letter sent to parents and subsequently shared with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Monday, the principal from Beverley School said staff have “exercised their right to being a work refusal process.”
The principal continued to say that teachers remain in class and that administration from neighbouring schools were brought in to ensure there was enough staff at the school.
12 new COVID-19 cases at Canada Post facility in Mississauga, 224 positive cases to date
Canada Post has announced 12 more employees at Canada Post’s Gateway facility in Mississauga have tested positive for coronavirus.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 224 employees contracted the virus.
Tuesday’s announcement comes a week after the Crown corporation began proactive testing of its employees.
“Canada Post will continue to follow the expert advice and analysis of Peel Public Health in how we respond to the situation at the facility while enforcing our safety protocols with everyone in the facility,” a statement from a spokesperson on Tuesday said.
The spokesperson said customers serviced by the facility should expect delays as a result of the number of employees affected.
BACKGROUND: Canada Post workers isolating after coronavirus outbreak at Mississauga facility
Ford calls for stricter border restrictions
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to bolster travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 variant cases.
Ford says those restrictions should include mandatory testing at airports for all incoming international travellers.
He also wants the federal government to temporarily ban direct flights from countries where the new variants are detected, including Brazil and Portugal.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 1,740 new cases on Tuesday.
Of those:
- 677 were in Toronto
- 320 were in Peel Region
- 144 were in York Region
- 51 were in Durham Region
- 49 were in Halton Region
Ontario reports 1,740 new coronavirus cases, 63 more deaths
Ontario is reporting 1,740 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the provincial total to 258,700.
Tuesday’s case count is the lowest increase in daily cases since mid-December.
The death toll in the province has risen to 5,909 after 63 more deaths were reported.
Resolved cases increased by 2,261 from the previous day. The government said 30,717 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.
Cases, deaths, outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 3,389 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is an increase of 24 deaths. Eleven virus-related deaths in total have been reported among staff.
There are 246 current outbreaks in homes, which is a decrease of 10 from the previous day.
The ministry also indicated there are currently 1,164 active cases among long-term care residents and 1,905 active cases among staff — down by 102 cases and down by 105 cases, respectively, in the last day.
— With files from The Canadian Press