Based on recommendations from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, to help slow the rate of COVID-19 infection in Toronto and protect vulnerable populations including seniors, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals experiencing homelessness, the City of Toronto is cancelling all programs and closing a number of its facilities as of 12:01 a.m. today. Families across the city already greatly affected by teachers’ strikes feel abandoned as they struggle to find a way to pay keep their work and families together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Impacted programs and facilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n -City-operated March Break camps are cancelled<\/p>\n\n\n\n -All licensed child care centres<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Community and recreation centres, greenhouses and conservatories, arenas, pools, fitness centres, and ski hills are closed<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Libraries are closed<\/p>\n\n\n\n -City-operated museums and galleries are closed<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Council and Committee meetings are suspended for the current meeting cycle<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Public consultations are suspended<\/p>\n\n\n\n -All event permits for City facilities, including civic centres, recreation facilities, and parks are cancelled (wedding ceremony permits for civic centre Wedding Chambers will be honoured)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reimbursements for cancellations will be processed as soon as possible. The tentative date for services to resume is April 5, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emergency and critical services continue unaffected:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n -Emergency response by Toronto Police, Fire Services, and Paramedic Services is not impacted<\/p>\n\n\n\n -TTC service will continue to operate. The mass gathering recommendation announced today by the provincial government does not include public transit<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Toronto Water operations continue, including drinking water, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater management<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Garbage, recycling and organics collection continues<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Shelters, respites, and drop-in centres continue to operate with measures already established<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Long-term care homes continue to operate with strict visitor restrictions in place<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Road, sidewalk, and bikeway operations and maintenance, including snow removal, continues<\/p>\n\n\n\n -City Hall, Metro Hall, and civic centres will remain open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. de Villa is also strongly encouraging all residents and visitors to self-isolate for 14 days upon arriving in Toronto from any country, including the United States. Public Health Ontario’s guidelines for self-isolation are available online: https:\/\/www.publichealthontario.ca\/-\/media\/documents\/ncov\/factsheet-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate.pdf<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any outstanding questions about service delivery and program impacts please call me at 416 392 1374<\/p>\n\n\n\n