Toronto Public Health urges caution on public gatherings

Thestar.com
March 16, 2020
Francine Kopun and Jennifer Pagliaro

While the City of Toronto will not ban public meetings for now, it is asking people to avoid shaking hands.

That was the message from Toronto’s medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa on Thursday, at a press conference to advise residents on the city’s state of preparedness -- and the safety of the public water supply -- in the face of a virus that has been declared a pandemic.

The press conference came on the same day the province announced the closure of all schools in Ontario for two weeks after March Break to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

Toronto Public Health is monitoring 29 positive cases of the novel coronavirus in Toronto. Four other people have recovered from the illness.

De Villa asked anyone who has travelled to Italy or Iran or Hubei Province in China within the last 14 days or who has come in contact with a person who is ill with COVID-19 to self-isolate and contact TPH at 416-338-7600.

Travellers are also being asked not to visit those who are elderly or ill.

But she said that coming into contact with someone who has come into contact with someone who has the disease is not a cause for concern.

She said the virus is transmitted through coughing and sneezing and can be contracted after spending 15 minutes or more with an infected person who is six feet away or less.

She reiterated that good hygiene, including frequent hand-washing, is the most effective weapon against the virus.

“We still are not seeing confirmed evidence of local transmission,” said de Villa on Thursday. “The new cases we are seeing are people arriving from outside Canada, including the U.S.”

But she said it is expected that local transmission will eventually occur and planning is underway for that possibility.

She asked people to stop shaking hands.

“At this time I am also asking you to change some of our behaviours, such as avoiding hand-to-hand contact through shaking hands. Even though this is part of our business and social culture, I am asking that you adopt this behaviour to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said de Villa.

She said while there is no blanket ban on public gatherings, she wants everyone to carefully consider whether public meetings are necessary.

“Event organizers and businesses can also do their part in reducing virus spread by promoting social distancing measures,” she said, asking people to consult Public Health Agency of Canada risk guidelines.

“If you have an upcoming event planned, please use this guidance to assess if your event can be postponed or held virtually.”

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, who’s also general manager of the Office of Emergency Management for the city and head of the city’s operational planning and response to the pandemic, assured residents that the city’s water supply is safe.

“We have robust emergency plans in place,” he said.

The city’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been upgraded so that emergency planning and response operations are now being conducted 24-7.

Working in the EOC, the city’s COVID-19 task force includes managers from all city divisions and agencies. The task force is planning how to deliver core city services if more staff are absent, as well as how to obtain protective equipment for frontline workers and protect vulnerable populations in the city.

“The taskforce is working on a number of important plans in preparation for the potential escalation of the COVID-19 situation,” Pegg said. “This includes outlining what service levels can continue to be met, in the event, let’s say, that 10, 25 or even 50 per cent of the workforce is unable to come to work due to illness.”

Pegg said any possible reductions in services would be aimed at non-essential services.

Asked if people need to be buying bottled water, he said: “I can assure you, Toronto Water is absolutely business as usual.”

“Like every other city division, the planning is in place,” he said, adding there’s no imminent risk to the water supply.

Mayor John Tory said the city is investigating the local economic impact of the global pandemic, and he has been in contact with the provincial and federal governments about what might be needed. He said he has been promised further help, as needed.

He called on everyone to maintain a calm and responsible approach.

“Just as government has a role to play, individuals also have a role to play as good citizens,” he said, adding that he feels confident the city learned a lot from battling SARS.

Coun. Joe Cressy, chair of the city’s Board of Health, also urged calm.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.