Mayor John Tory urges Torontonians to 'stay home this Christmas'

Torontosun.com
Dec. 24

The message may sound like a broken record but it needs to be broadcast, Mayor John Tory says.

“Please stay home this Christmas,” Tory stressed Wednesday during the city’s last COVID-19 update.

“This Christmas has to be different, but we will get through this tough time. To those who follow the rules thank you. We will be rewarded with a stronger Toronto sooner and 2021 will be a better year if we follow the rules.”

Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa said keeping apart will keep a bad situation from getting worse.

“It’s understandable to want to do what you always do, but this is just one year,” she said. “Next year we can expect better things. Please stay home and stay safe.”

There is also relief for communities that have been the hardest hit by the pandemic

Low-income households, seniors, people Indigenous and Black Torontonians newcomers, and people who live in “tower communities” will be among those who will benefit from community organization funding, Tory said.

The community funding is coming from organizations such as the Scheinberg Relief Fund for issues of food security and mental health.

“These are agencies on the ground that are trusted and well known,” Tory said.

Some funding includes more than $400,00 for Indigenous agencies and $1M for organizations that serve the Black community.

On Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. the city is asking people to take to their front porch or balconies to bang pots or ring bells to support all the frontline workers.

Torontonians are also being asked to pay “tribute” to the workers

On Wednesday in Toronto there were 628 new cases with 321 in hospital and 85 of those were in the ICU. There were also 17 deaths reported.

In Ontario, there were 2,408 new cases reported Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, the COVID-19 vaccine Moderna was approved for use in adults by Health Canada.

De Villa says it is welcome news to have a new tool to fight the pandemic.

“It’s a very welcome addition. A Christmas gift for all of us,” she said.

Another small gift is coming from the city as it plans to reduce parking enforcement over the holidays.