Some have become stars in their own right, displaying a kind of televisual bedside manner that combines a reassuring, fact-based approach with occasional levity.

The Canadian government said a community case occurs when the virus has passed within a community, rather than contracted through travel.

According to Environment Canada's website, temperatures are forecasted to dip to -17 C in the evening on Friday with an overnight wind chill of -25 into Saturday morning.

Both patients recently travelled to Toronto from Wuhan, China, which is believed to be the epicentre of the outbreak.

"Everyone knows the policy and procedures. Staff in different settings and leadership are making sure there are places in order to respond to people under investigation, which is mostly what we're doing now," Dr. David Williams said.

The public health unit has issued an extreme cold weather alert for the city starting Friday and continuing "until further notice."

A report before the city’s General Government and Licensing Committee said regulation of all vape products is done through the provincial government’s Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA). But it also said there is no reliable system in place for Toronto Public Health to track and inspect retailers to ensure they are complying with the rules.

Toronto Public Health is investigating two lab-confirmed cases of measles and warning that some people may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus.

Dr. Eileen de Villa says public health initiatives appear to be invisible when they work because they prevent disease, so it is easy to take them for granted.

Toronto Public Health is responsible for a wide variety of services, including school immunization programs, protection from infectious diseases, ensuring safe drinking water and more.