Here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in the Greater Toronto Area for Wednesday.
Toronto police warn of taxi scam where suspects pose as driver and customer, cite COVID-19 concerns
Toronto police are warning the public about an ongoing taxi scam investigation in which it’s alleged the suspects use the fear of COVID-19 as a way to get a victim to provide their banking card.
Police said the scam involves the use of a fake taxi while a suspect poses as the driver and another poses as a customer.
Investigators alleged the fake customer approaches a victim asking them to use their debit card to pay for the taxi, claiming the driver won’t accept cash due to COVID-19.
Toronto to open 9 clinics as part of COVID-19 vaccination plan
City of Toronto officials say nine COVID-19 immunization clinics will be opened as part of the municipal vaccination plan.
The first clinic, which was opened at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and closed shortly after due to short supply of vaccines, was established as a “proof-of-concept clinic.”
The other eight clinics were “strategically” chosen by City officials and will be at the following locations:
- Cloverdale Mall
- Toronto Congress Centre
- The Hangar
- North Toronto Memorial Community Centre
- Carmine Stefano Community Centre
- Mitchell Field Community Centre
- Scarborough Town Centre
- Malvern Community Recreation Centre
Man charged after allegedly presenting fake negative COVID-19 test at Toronto Pearson Airport
Peel Regional Police say a man has been charged after he allegedly presented a fake COVID-19 test result at Pearson Airport.
Police said a CBSA officer and a quarantine officer were conducting checks at an inspection point and a man’s negative COVID-19 test document “was revealed to be fraudulent.”
The man actually tested positive for the coronavirus and was subsequently arrested and charged for unlawfully using a forged document, police said.
54 COVID-19 cases linked to outbreak at Vaughan FedEx facility
York Region Public Health says there are 54 COVID-19 cases linked to an outbreak at a FedEx facility in Vaughan.
Officials said most of the affected employees have recovered and the risk to the public is low.
However, officials said they continue to monitor the situation as there continues to be a potential for more cases in the workplace.
2 Peel Region teachers test positive, 1 confirmed to have U.K. variant
Officials say a coronavirus outbreak at a Peel Region school that saw two teachers test positive involved the U.K. variant.
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Bruce Campbell, a spokesperson with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, said the two affected staff members were teaching students remotely from the school. He didn’t identify which school the teachers worked at.
Campbell said one of the staff members was confirmed to have the highly contagious U.K. B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant.
He said the teachers were “exercising together” at the school and, for at least a period of time, were not wearing masks despite a mandatory board policy on face coverings.
Peel Region sees inspection blitz
The next phase of Ontario’s workplace “inspection blitz” is expected to focus on warehouses and distribution centres in Peel Region, a COVID-19 hot spot with a high number of essential workers.
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said inspections, which began Wednesday, would target more than 100 distribution centres in the region.
Ontario government extends off-peak electricity rates to Feb. 22
In a news release issued Wednesday, officials said the off-peak rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour, all day, will be in effect until Feb. 22 as the province continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Off-peak pricing will be automatically applied to electricity bills of all residential, small business, and farm customers who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility, the government said.
Ontario projects $2.6B more in COVID-19 pandemic spending since fall budget
Ontario expects to spend an additional $2.6 billion to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The province says that brings its one-time pandemic spending to $13.3 billion.
In its third quarter financial report released today, the province says the additional $2.6 billion will go towards creating a previously announced grant program for small business, and to support hospitals and long-term care homes.
Status of cases in the GTA
Ontario reported a total of 1,072 new cases on Wednesday.
Of those:
- 393 were in Toronto
- 196 were in Peel Region
- 125 were in York Region
- 21 were in Durham Region
- 28 were in Halton Region
Ontario reports 1,072 new coronavirus cases, 41 more deaths
Ontario is reporting 1,072 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the provincial total to 281,566.
The death toll in the province has risen to 6,596 as 41 more deaths were reported.
Resolved cases increased by 1,709 from the previous day. The government said 52,504 tests were processed in the last 24 hours.
Cases, deaths and outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes
According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there have been 3,683 deaths reported among residents and patients in long-term care homes across Ontario which is an increase of 15 deaths. Eleven virus-related deaths in total have been reported among staff.
There are 200 current outbreaks in homes, which is a decrease of five from the previous day.
The ministry also indicated there are currently 394 active cases among long-term care residents and 568 active cases among staff — down by 65 cases and down by 83 cases, respectively, in the last day.
—With files from The Canadian Press
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