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Number of COVID-19 deaths in Toronto tops 700 as mayor says wear masks 'when in doubt'

Update comes as city begins to reopen more than 850 parks amenities this week

CBC.ca
May 21, 2020
Muriel Draaisma

The city is recommending that members of the public wear face masks or coverings in situations where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
More than 700 people have died of COVID-19 in Toronto, the city reported on Wednesday as officials urged residents to wear face masks when they are not able to maintain physical distancing.

The city also announced that it is opening more than 850 parks amenities as the province continues to ease emergency restrictions.

A total of 716 COVID-19 deaths have been registered in Toronto while a total of 6,735 people have recovered from the disease. The number of recoveries is an increase of 119 from Tuesday.

Currently, 413 people are in hospital, with 92 in intensive care units and 73 intubated.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city's medical officer of health, reported 263 new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative total in the city to 9,129.

"We know that COVID-19 continues to spread in our city," De Villa said at a news conference at city hall.

"This is why I continue to remind you to keep six feet, or two metres, away from others when not at home, to avoid touching your face, mouth, nose or eyes, and to wash your hands often. These are the best ways to protect yourself from this virus."

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De Villa told reporters that wearing non-surgical face masks or coverings is not mandatory in Toronto, but she advised residents to wear masks when riding public transit, buying groceries, taking taxis or ride-sharing services and taking elevators.

If out walking or running with lots of space, there is no need to wear a mask, she said.

Face masks do not protect the wearer from COVID-19, she said, but they do protect people near the person wearing the mask from his or her germs, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Masks are also not substitutes for physical distancing and handwashing, she added.

"We have learned that COVID-19 can spread before someone has symptoms, or is even aware that they have the infection," she said.

"This is why especially now as we approach reopening in our city, I strongly recommend that we use face masks to protect others when we are in settings where we cannot maintain physical distancing. This will help to reduce virus spread in our community."

De Villa said face masks and coverings should allow for easy breathing, fit securely with ties or ear loops, and if made of cloth, they should keep their shape after washing and drying.

She said they should also have at least two layers of tightly woven cotton or linen. They should also cover a person's nose and mouth without gaping.

People who should not wear masks include children under two, anyone with a medical condition that makes it difficult to wear them and those who cannot remove a mask without help, she said.

Number of community cases declining slowly

De Villa noted that the number of COVID-19 cases in the community continues to drop slowly, a development she described as "promising" because it means Toronto Public Health (TPH) can isolate people who are sick more quickly and prevent further spread.

"When we look at our data right now, we are still seeing that our community cases are declining, albeit slowly, but still declining," she said.

But she added that Toronto residents still need to maintain physically distancing.

"We need to continue to be very careful as we move forward, so we don't find ourselves in a position where we have to go back," she said.

Mayor John Tory, who also spoke at the news conference, agreed with De Villa, saying: "Wear a face-covering when in doubt."

Tory said he has been told that men, in particular, do not like to wear masks because some see it as a sign of weakness.

"To me, it is a sign of strength and a sign of resolve to fight this virus to protect your fellow citizens and your friends and your neighbours," Tory told reporters.

Tory said the city will be encouraging its employees to wear masks in their daily activities, including when riding on public transit, to lead by example.

He said the city is in the process of procuring more than 100,000 reusable cloth masks for its employees.

The mayor urged all employers in Toronto to provide masks for their employees.

City staff begin to remove tape from parks amenities
In other news, Tory announced that the city staff have begun to remove tape from more than 850 parks amenities this week. The city closed all parks amenities in March to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Five BMX locations, 14 skateboard parks and four disc golf locations are opening on Wednesday, while more than 70 off-leash dog parks opened on Tuesday.

Tory said the city will reopen picnic shelters,150 basketball courts, more than 300 baseball diamonds and more than 300 soccer and multi-use outdoor fields in time for this weekend. Many parking lots at parks will also reopen this week across the city.

Waterfront parking lots will remain closed for now and High Park is still closed to traffic on weekends.

Tory said city staff are also getting ready to open more than 600 tennis courts at 185 locations this weekend. The reopening of parks amenities will continue next week when staff work with Toronto Public Health to open lawn bowling facilities and outdoor bocce courts.

People may use outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields for such individual sports as walking, running, biking, skateboarding, frisbee, kicking a ball, and low contact racquet sports such as tennis, badminton, pickleball and ping pong.

People are not allowed to play team sports, such as soccer or baseball, even on fields intended for this purpose, unless they belong to the same household.

Park amenities that continue to be closed include playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment, swimming pools and splash pads. Greenhouses, nurseries and conservatories, High Park Zoo and Riverdale Farm are also closed.

While visiting a park, people must continue to practise physical distancing.

"If a resident arrives at an amenity that is crowded, they are advised to wait until there is enough space to physically distance or return at another time," the city said in a news release.

City to expand ActiveTO this weekend

At the news conference, Tory announced that the city plans to expand its ActiveTO program this weekend.

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The program, developed by TPH and Transportation Services, provides residents with space to be physically active while allowing people to maintain physical distancing.

Tory said stretches of certain major roads will be closed to vehicle access to allow for walking, running and biking on Saturday and Sunday.

Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, head of the city's emergency response team, said the following roads will be closed this weekend from Saturday at 6 a.m. until Sunday 11 p.m.:

"The city will actively manage traffic during these closures through signal timing adjustments on adjacent routes, as well as roadway signage to alert drivers," Pegg said.

Drivers should plan alternate routes and people wanting to use the closed roads should travel by bike or on foot because parking is limited, he said.

Enforcement of physical distancing bylaw continuing

As for enforcement, bylaw officers are continuing to respond to complaints, patrol parks and educate residents on the city's physical distancing bylaw.

On Tuesday, the city received 64 complaints about people using outdoor amenities or not practising physical distancing in public places and bylaw officers issued three tickets for physical distancing.

This month, bylaw and police officers have spoken to more than 4,000 people in parks about closures of amenities and public health measures.