News Release
July 8, 2020
The City of Toronto is entering its third week in Stage 2 of the provincial reopening framework. Over the past two weeks, great progress has been made – helping people get active, businesses reopening, gradually resuming City operations, and exploring new, safe ways to offer services.
Stage 2 accomplishments to date include:
Toronto Public Health
- Implemented a mandatory mask or face covering bylaw and developed signage, guidance and a draft policy to support businesses with implementation.
- Developed guidance documents for businesses and settings that have reopened, including, but not limited to, day camps, pools and splash pads, personal service settings and outdoor patios.
- Increased capacity for case and contact follow up.
- Created a monitoring dashboard to continue closely monitoring trends of COVID-19 cases, health care and public health capacity, and lab turnaround.
Transportation
- Implemented CaféTO – a quick-start program created to help local restaurant and bar operators open outdoor space safely for the summer.
- Installed 28 curb lane patios that support 60 businesses, while authorizing an additional 97 sidewalk patio expansions.
- Received 774 CaféTO registrations and continue to work with local operators to safely roll-out more locations.
- Implemented ActiveTO, a suite of programs that continues to provide more than 10 kilometres of space on major roads each weekend around busy trails and parks for people to be physically active while respecting physical distancing.
- Received approval to install 25 kilometres of temporary bikeways in Toronto as part of ActiveTO.
- Installed separated temporary bikeways along major streets such as Bloor Street, University Avenue and Dundas Street East.
- Developed the Quiet Streets program to provide more than 60 kilometres of roadway and created shared space for local residents for walking, biking and driving on neighbourhood roads to maintain physical distancing in their communities.
Parks and Recreation
- Developed CampTO, a new creative camp experience that offers outdoor and physical activities, active and quiet games, arts and crafts, and nature-based activities.
- Received approximately 16,650 CampTO registrations.
- Opened 57 outdoor pools and extended pool hours at eight locations during heat warnings.
- Opened 140 splashpads.
- Opened 10 City lifeguard supervised swimming beaches.
- Activated nine emergency cooling centres during heat warnings.
- Reopened public ferry access to Toronto Island Park.
Children’s Services
- Opened 11 Toronto Early Learning and Child Care Services, with an operating capacity of 369 children.
- Hosted virtual community of practice live group sessions for nearly 946 child care staff to support centres in planning to reopen safely.
- Supported 322 licensed child care programs in reopening, with a further 12 reopening soon.
Shelter, Support and Housing
- Opened the Roehampton Hotel program, which is the eighteenth hotel program for homeless clients the City has opened since mid-March. This site has 109 units for more than 170 clients.
- Returned seven community centres for recreation use that were used as temporary respite sites. Transferred homeless clients from there to alternative inside spaces.
Toronto Animal Services
- Resumed pet licensing online, by phone or mail.
- Resumed all animal-related bylaw enforcement on-site and remotely between the hours of 7 a.m. and 1 a.m.
- Resumed the trap-neuter-return program for feral cats on a limited basis.
Bylaw Enforcement
- Resumed some non-emergency bylaw enforcement, including service requests related to noise, sidewalk cafés and patios, long grass and weeds, dogs off-leash and illegal dumping.
Licensing and Permits
- Resumed contactless licensing processing for all licence categories, including Vehicle-for-Hire. Licence application and renewal fees are being accepted online.
- Resumed lottery licence services. Applications for a lottery licence or permit, event-specific report forms and eligibility documents for new licences and renewals are currently accepted by email or mail.
- Licence renewal notices sent out with reminders on how to pay online.
- The Toronto Licensing Tribunal is conducting e-hearings to deal with business licensing matters.
Business Reopening
- Licenced body rub parlours and holistic centres are permitted to operate with specific public health guidelines
- Licensed food trucks, street food vending and ice cream trucks are permitted to operate with specific COVID-19 guidelines
- Licensed personal services are permitted to operate with specific public health guidelines. Letters on the guidelines were sent to all licensees
- Licensed restaurants and bars are permitted to operate in outdoor spaces only with specific public health guidelines
The City also launched ShopHERE in May to help independent businesses and artists in the city open a free online store. The program in partnership with Shopify, Google, Facebook and Mastercard has built online stores for over 3,000 small businesses and artists across the city.
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.
Quote:
“I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made over the last two weeks, since entering Stage 2. I’m proud of City staff for coming together to quickly resume services, help businesses reopen and find new ways for residents to stay active. I also want to thank Torontonians for working together and following public health recommendations. We need to do everything we can to keep this virus from spreading so we can continue moving forward with the reopening of our city.”
– Mayor John Tory
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at facebook.com/cityofto.
