Top COVID-19 stories and news
- Canada’s worker benefits: What we know so far
- Restaurant alcohol takeout and delivery: what you need to know
- A new online tool maps COVID-19 cases in Toronto
- Opinion: We can’t police our way out of a pandemic
- Coronavirus in the prison system: Avoiding a worst-case scenario
Case summary
- As of 4 pm on March 30, there are 1,966 known cases of COVID-19 in Ontario.
- 534 cases have been resolved in the province and 33 people have died.
- As of 1 pm on March 31, there are 793 cases in Toronto, eight people have died and 43 people have recovered.
Follow the latest Toronto news on coronavirus
11:25 pm People caught violating emergency orders must now ID themselves
People charged with violating Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) must ID themselves or face a fine, the province said in a statement.
Doug Ford’s government approved the temporary measure on March 31 through an emergency order under the act. People are now required to identify themselves to police officers, First Nations constables, special constables and municipal by-law enforcement officers.
Anyone who doesn’t comply can be fined $750.
Other fines for violating emergency orders, which include the closure of non-essential businesses, prohibition of gatherings of five people or more and stopping price gouging, could result in up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual. Fines for a director of a corporation go up to $500,000 or up to $10 million for a corporation.
7:45 pm COVID-19 outbreak declared at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga
Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital has declared a COVID-19 outbreak, Trillium Health Partners said in a statement after four patients on an inpatient unit tested positive for the virus.
The patients are being relocated and all other patients are being monitored for symptoms and the hospital is taking steps to identify anyone that had exposure to the individuals. Precautions are being taken to protect patients and staff, the hospital said.
4:50 pm Toronto has 793 cases of COVID-19
Toronto’s medical officer of health said that, as of 1 pm today, there are 793 cases of COVID-19 in the city, including 628 confirmed cases and 165 cases that are considered “probable cases” by Toronto Public Health. Of those cases, 65 cases are in hospital and 33 are in intensive care.
Approximately 25 per cent of the cases are attributed to community spread and 43 people have recovered. There have been 8 deaths in Toronto.
4:00 pm City cancels all events until June 30, including Pride weekend
Toronto Mayor John Tory announced during a press conference Tuesday afternoon that all city-led events, festivals and cultural programs, as well as all event permits held by other groups, will be cancelled until June 30.
Tory said that the Pride Toronto festival and parade was among these events. Pride’s 2020 festival weekend was scheduled to go ahead June 26-28.
Pride confirmed that the festival weekend would not go ahead on Twitter: “In alignment with the City of Toronto’s statement, Pride Toronto will no longer host the festival weekend on June 26-28,” they wrote.
1:30 pm Public school closure extended to May 4
Ontario public schools will remain closed until May 4 for students and May 1 for teachers, Premier Doug Ford said at a news conference today. He said will extend that date further if need be. Read more here.
11:38 am Canada working with private companies to supply medical equipment
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that Canada has signed supply contracts with three companies to manufacture surgical masks, respirators and test kits and is spending $2 billion to procure more needed medical supplies.
He added that the federal government has signed letters of intent with five other companies to boost supplies of personal protective equipment. Trudeau has asked the private sector to help remedy the shortage in supplies and today he said nearly 3,000 have stepped up.
“By mobilizing industry we can produce the goods that are needed by our health care professionals right here in Canada in order to protect their health, to protect other patients and to stop the spread of the virus,” he said.
11:23 am Ryerson postpones spring convocations to fall
Ryerson University has postponed all spring convocation ceremonies to the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Students who have applied to graduate, and who have completed their program requirements successfully, will still graduate and be awarded their degree or certificate,” president Mohamed Lachemi said in a statement.
“While we cannot hold our traditional spring events, Ryerson is actively exploring options for a virtual or alternative celebration in June,” he added. “Once plans for the fall convocation ceremonies are finalized in the coming months, the university will reach out to invite spring graduates to participate in the fall ceremonies.”
10:53 am Ontario reports 260 new cases of COVID-19
Public health officials in Ontario reported 260 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the province’s total to 1,966. That’s a 15.2 per cent increase over yesterday.
The data is accurate as of 4 pm on March 30 as per the province’s new reporting method. In all, 534 cases have been resolved and 33 people have died. A total of 51,629 have been tested and 4,280 cases are awaiting test results.
9:10 am Downtown hospital staff most in need of emergency child care: city
The city has opened four emergency child-care that will operate a 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The centres are for frontline workers with no other child-care options and will provide care for 30 children at a time.
In a statement, the city said approximately 487 families, representing more than 705 children, have applied for spaces. Around 64 per cent of the applications are from health care workers and about 36 per cent of applicants are essential city employees.
More than 100 children have been placed and will start attending the centres today.
“The greatest demand for emergency child care has been in the downtown core to meet the needs of hospital staff,” the city said in a statement. “The city is monitoring demand and will work with the province to obtain approval to open more locations if needed.”
The spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis. If the centres reach capacity, the city will prioritize frontline health care workers and first responders.
9:02 am TTC asks riders to travel after 7:30 am
The TTC says buses are experiencing crowding before 7 am on weekdays. To encourage social distancing, the public transit agency is asking riders to delay their commute if possible.
“Unless your trip is for work or a scheduled medical appointment, please consider travelling after 7:30 am and practice physical distancing at bus stops,” the TTC said in a statement.
8:40 am Toronto District School Board preparing to shift classes online
The Toronto District School Board is exploring ways for teacher-led learning to continue on April 6. In video messages to teachers, parents and guardians posted on Twitter last night, director of education John Molloy said the board is finding ways to ensure all students have equitable access to the internet.
“We are working very hard to provide all students with access to technology and the internet so that we can provide opportunities for all students in this very challenging time,” Molloy said in a video posted on Twitter. “We trust that by April 6 we will have clarity in terms of the direction going forward.”
Premier Doug Ford and education minister Stephen Lecce are expected to detail home-schooling plans this afternoon. Lecce and minister of colleges and universities Ross Romano will join Ford at his daily press conference today at 1 pm.
On Monday, the province renewed the state of emergency declaration for another two weeks.
@nowtoronto
