A month into COVID-19 crisis, city officials say lockdown measures saved lives

222 deaths recorded in the city since outbreak began

CBC.ca
April 24, 2020

A month into the COVID-19 outbreak in Toronto, city officials say the number of cases in Toronto is lower than expected because people took public-health measures seriously.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city's medical officer of health, looked back over an unprecedented month that started with a declaration of a state of emergency.

She said she knew she had to act immediately, and implement drastic public health and physical distancing measures.

"I distinctly remember the day that everything changed for all of us. The day that I knew I needed to ask each and everyone of you to take extreme action to protect our city's health," de Villa said as she addressed her remarks to all Torontonians.

"March 23, 2020 was a cloudy day and very stressful in ways that I could not have imagined and I knew it would be very stressful for you too."

'I knew these measure would change your lives'
Even though the measures were sudden and drastic, de Villa said public health officials and politicians made the right call.

"I knew these measures would change your lives, both immediately, and in the long term," de Villa said.

"I know these decisions would change how we interact with each other. But these actions were needed to save lives. They were needed to keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed."

De Villa spoke at the news conference along with Mayor John Tory and Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, the city's head of emergency management, about the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Thursday, Toronto has now recorded 4,347 cases of COVID-19.

At the news conference, de Villa said of the total number of cases, 3,933 have been confirmed, while 414 are classified as possible.

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There are currently 293 patients in hospital. Of this number, 106 are in intensive care units.

There have been 222 deaths recorded, de Villa said.

Paul Raftis, general manager of long-term care, homes and services at the City of Toronto, says the death toll from COVID-19 at Seven Oaks long-term care home in Scarborough is now at 32.

There are currently 108 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19.

"We're working very closely with Toronto Public Health and the ministry to ensure that we have implemented full recommendations and guidelines," Raftis said.

"Of course, the team is working around the clock to do everything to stop the spread.

"We have an outbreak management team that is ensuring physical distancing and isolation of residents to the best of our ability," Raftis added.

'We are making progress'
Meanwhile, the mayor said much progress has been made over the past month.

"We are making progress and this week we had reason to have cautious optimism, Tory said.

"We are slowing the spread of COVID-19 and thanks largely to the physical distancing efforts of Toronto residents we are saving thousands of lives."

But the mayor said past month has not been without tragedy, adding that COVID-19 is leaving a devastating trail in the community.

Against this background, he urged residents to continue to stay home and heed the advice of public health officials.

"By continuing to do the right thing and stay home as much as possible, you are continuing to save lives and to save others from becoming ill," Tory said.

The city's head of emergency management said Toronto's response to COVID-19 has been and continues to be robust, responsive and responsible

"Our three top priorities are, first and foremost to save lives, to prevent our health-care systems from becoming overwhelmed, and doing all we can do to protect our social and financial systems," Pegg said.

"I am extremely proud and thankful for everyone who continues to give their all as we battle COVID-19."