Toronto extends State of Emergency

John Tory

Toronto City Council unanimously voted on Thursday last  to extend Mayor John Tory’s State of Emergency declaration in the city of Toronto until the COVID-19 municipal emergency has ended, in accordance with advice from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health and the Office of Emergency Management.

This includes extending the new physical distancing emergency bylaws, to retain physical distancing regulations in parks and public squares for the duration of the COVID-19 municipal emergency.

The declaration of a municipal emergency is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and this extension will ensure the municipal government can continue to respond quickly to the emergency, administer other necessary City business, plan for recovery and focus on protecting the health of all residents,  says a news release from The City of Toronto.

In extending this declaration, the City strongly encourages residents to continue staying home as much as possible, keeping their distance from one another, protecting the vulnerable and reducing the impact on our health care system., the release  notes.

It has been just over one month since Mayor Tory declared a State of Emergency in the Toronto. At the time, there were 304 cases of COVID-19 in the city and most cases were traceable to travel or close contact with the virus. .

The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Check toronto.ca/covid-19 for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.