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Tory pleads with Torontonians to avoid illegal gatherings and follow rules to halt COVID-19 resurgence

Thestar.com
Sept. 9, 2020
David Rider

Amid rapidly rising COVID-19 infection rates, Mayor John Tory is “pleading” with Torontonians to avoid crowd scenes including weddings and beach parties.

In response to questions at unrelated news conferences Tuesday, Tory expressed strong concern over the climbing infection rates, saying he won’t hesitate “for one second” to impose new restrictions if public health officials deem them necessary.

Ontario has banned gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and more than 100 people outdoors, with anti-virus rules including physical distancing for legal gatherings.

But people continue to ignore precautions, even as kids start to head back to school.

More than 20 people were infected at a late-August wedding and related celebrations at three different GTA sites.

Overnight dance parties continue at Cherry Beach, with video from the weekend showing people dancing closely and socializing without masks.

Toronto officials said they prevented the weekend transportation of “bushels of firewood to Toronto Island for an unauthorized public event.”

Tory said: “We’re pleading with people in all age groups to continue to stay the course,” and follow anti-virus precautions including masks and physical distancing, particularly at gatherings including parties, weddings and while dining out.

According to the Star’s count, the rate of infections has been rising steadily in Toronto since the city entered Stage 3 of reopening at the end of July.

On Aug. 1, Toronto had seen an average of about 15 new cases reported daily over the previous week, near the lowest the city’ seven-day average had been since March 20 -- shortly before the city had reported its first death from COVID-19 and well before the pandemic first peaked in Ontario.

Toronto’s seven-day average has gone up every week since Aug. 1. As of Monday, it had tripled to about 45 cases daily but remains well below the peak infection rate of about 230 cases a day, seen in late May

The mayor told reporters he has asked public health officials to report to him on the most common infection sources.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s public health chief, recently cited “congregate settings” where people gather, he added.

“The bottom line is we’re going to get to the bottom of this,” said Tory, citing new data highlighting the growth of COVID-19 infections among young Torontonians.

Of 968 people infected in the past month, he said, half were between the ages of 20 and 39, with another 15 per cent younger than 20.

Toronto police monitored but did not shut down the latest Cherry Beach party. City officials said tickets and more than 500 cautions were issued on the weekend at Toronto sites over physical distancing, alcohol, bonfires and littering bylaws.

Noting he doesn’t direct enforcement, Tory slammed the party organizers, saying “They are inconsiderate, they are irresponsible and they should be dealt with.”

Toronto Police spokesperson Connie Osborne said: “The city is leading on education and enforcement of emergency orders and by-laws. We continue to work with them in a supporting capacity.”

A city spokesperson, asked if more action will be taken to break up illegal gatherings, said she could not provide the information until Wednesday.

While Toronto Public Health’s online dashboard of key pandemic indicators switched last month from green to yellow, indicating the infection rate is no longer in line with the city’s goals, cases have been rising in other parts of the GTA.

Peel Region, which entered Stage 3 on July 31, has seen its seven-day average quadruple since Aug. 1, from 12 cases daily to nearly 50.

York Region has seen its average more than double over the same period to 14 cases a day.