New bylaw orders Torontonians to keep at least two metres apart in parks, public squares

Thestar.com
April 3, 2020
Jennifer Pagliaro

Using his emergency powers, Mayor John Tory signed a new bylaw Thursday that requires people to stay two metres apart from one another in city parks and public squares.

Breaking the bylaw, which will be in effect for at least the next 30 days, would mean prosecution and could mean a fine of up to $5,000.

The city has also asked Ontario’s Chief Justice to allow issuing of tickets on the spot for $750.

“The time for puzzlement at this misbehaviour is over,” Tory said at city hall. “Lives are potentially at stake and we will turn up the heat in the hopes that the few who still don’t get it or pretend not to get it will get with the program.”

Meanwhile, the city has made a massive request to the federal government for personal protective equipment (PPE) based on a worst-case scenario.

The new rules only apply to people who don’t live in the same household -- meaning families and others living under the same roof who don’t need to be in self-isolation can spend time together in a park while keeping their distance from others.

The bylaw doesn’t apply to sidewalks or the TTC, though city officials are still strongly urging people to keep a distance at all times and to stay home as much as possible.

Tory said they considered applying the bylaw to other places, like sidewalks and city-owned parking lots, but said they have focused on the areas where they have seen “wilful and repeated disobedience.”

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said 160 uniformed officers as well as special constables and parking enforcement officers would work with bylaw officers to help enforce the new bylaw.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health, called it “appalling” that people were still gathering in groups in public places in defiance of her instructions, saying she’d learned Wednesday about barriers to Sunnyside Park being removed.

Tory said Thursday 15 sets of concrete blocks are being dropped at parking lot entrances, including at Sunnyside Park.

Public health officials say being outside and getting exercise is important, as long as people are practising appropriate social distancing, and staying home if they are experiencing symptoms, are confirmed or presumed to have COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who does.

As of Thursday, there were 897 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, 727 confirmed (tested positive) and 170 probable cases. Of those, 86 were in hospital and 39 were in ICUs. Approximately 26 per cent of all cases were the result of community spread, de Villa said.

On Thursday, Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, who is heading the COVID-19 emergency operations centre, told reporters the city has asked the federal government for a massive supply of personal protective equipment.

The request to Ottawa, through the provincial government, totals 184 million articles of PPE based on a “worst-case, full pandemic scenario.”

That includes 66 million respirators, 28.5 million surgical masks, 31.6 million protective gowns and 4.5 million pieces of eye protection, including shields.

The request covers all city staff at risk, including police, fire and paramedic staff, as well as frontline workers at homeless shelters and city-run nursing homes for seven months. Pegg said that doesn’t assume the crisis would last that long but is based on a “business cycle” for acquisition.

Pegg said he does not know when the PPE will start arriving but is constantly talking to provincial and federal officials.

Delaying access to desperately needed PPE, he said, is the emergence in other countries of counterfeit equipment, including people ordering virus-blocking face masks and instead getting “tissue and elastics.”

The spectre of getting ineffective equipment means all levels of government must do extra work when ordering and receiving PPE, Pegg said, adding he is “stunned” to hear of the counterfeits.

Mary-Anne Bedard, the city’s general manager of the shelter, support and housing administration, said shelter workers will be asked to wear PPE while dealing with anyone who is “symptomatic.” Social distancing rules and extra cleaning now in effect should protect staff from people not showing COVID-19 symptoms, she said.

As of Thursday, five shelter clients and two shelter workers had tested positive for COVID-19, Bedard confirmed to the Star.