Hair, nail salons and clothing stores encouraged to close by Toronto’s medical officer of health

Thestar.com
March 23, 2020
Jennifer Pagliaro

Toronto’s medical officer of health is encouraging all non-essential businesses like hair and nail salons as well as clothing stores to close immediately as city officials urge social distancing to combat the growing COVID-19 outbreak.

The recommendation from Dr. Eileen de Villa came Thursday during a regular public briefing at city hall. It follows the province declaring a state of emergency on Tuesday and shuttering bars, nightclubs, theatres and dine-in service at restaurants.

“I’m still hearing from many people around our city that there are still a number of non-essential businesses that continue to keep their doors open,” she said. “If we want to be successful in protecting ourselves, our families, and our community against this virus, we have to take social distancing even more seriously.”

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, De Villa reported 128 cases in Toronto with 11 people in hospital. She said Toronto does have to concern itself with the possibility of an uptick in cases with the return of people who travelled during March break.

She gave the example of salons and clothing shops, but said her recommendation applies to all non-essential businesses.

De Villa said shops providing food and medicine are essential. When asked about malls, she noted those locations often have food takeout and some have grocery stores and pharmacies.

The statement is not an order to close, but a recommendation. She said in public health practice, seeking voluntary compliance is usually more effective -- when people come to the same conclusion and agree with the “treatment” of their own accord. But businesses could risk future orders or fines if they choose not to close, she said.

It’s always possible orders could be coming for closures of additional businesses, she said.

De Villa praised the positive adjustments she’s heard people are making -- offering free online fitness classes, hosting virtual dinner parties and posting children’s artwork in windows to cheer neighbours.

“These are examples of the resilience and creativity of our city,” she said.

She reminded residents that staying physically active and getting outdoors for a walk or run is important, but gatherings in groups is still discouraged.

De Villa made a plea to residents on Wednesday to take social distancing seriously -- cancelling dinner plans with friends, working from home and limiting trips outside the home to only those needed to get food and medication.

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, who is heading the city’s emergency operations centre, said the city’s public hotline for COVID-19 is seeing “an incredibly high volume of calls” and that many of the questions being asked can be addressed by first visiting the city’s website.

Pegg said the TTC’s WheelTrans reservation system has been “overburdened” with calls from non-WheelTrans customers asking for transport to assessment centres.

He also reminded residents to not call 911 unless it is an emergency.

Additional city services have also been suspended.

Yard waste is no longer being collected and should be removed from the curb until further notice, Pegg said.

Long-term care homes run by the city continue to operate, but are not allowing visitors.

All Toronto Police service locations are closed to the public and criminal record checks must be submitted online. Vulnerable sector screening can only be done by appointment on an urgent basis by calling 416-808-8244 or emailing referencecheckprogram@torontopolice.on.ca.

Pegg also said the city is staffed to handle any local flooding, and downed branches and wires because of expected rainfall and wind gusts on Friday.