Tory, De Villa speak as Toronto sees 175 new cases of COVID-19

Toronto recorded 175 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday as the city continues to see an upward trend in its daily case count, with many of the newest cases concentrated in the under-40 age group.

Data collected shows that many of Toronto’s cases are from individuals who live in the Waterfront Communities-The Island neighbourhood.

At the city’s board of health meeting, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen De Villa said Toronto Public Health (TPH) has been seeing the in increasing trend in cases since the city entered Stage 3 of Ontario’s economic recovery plan on July 31.

“It is more challenging now to maintain these goals given that we are trying to strike this balance of reopening and managing to resurgence we are seeing in the recent weeks,” De Villa said.

De Villa makes recommendations

She outlined a few recommendations including the implementation of strategies that “mitigate health inequities,” asking the province’s ministry of long-term care to invest in on-site infection control and asking the federal government to improve their quarantine data sharing system.

“There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has absolutely laid bare the inequities that exist in our community,” she said.

The Board of Health has requested De Villa meet with social development and social service officials to address the vulnerable populations. De Villa said TPH has adjusted its responses in the midst of the pandemic and “will continue to do so on an ongoing basis so that we can address the needs of those who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.”

De Villa also called on the Ministry of Long-Term Care to fund on-site infection control expertise. The money would be used to hire individuals who specialize in infection control as well as train existing practitioners who work in the long-term care system, all in an effort to mitigate any further COVID-19 transmission and spread.

The chief medical officer’s third recommendation was to call on the federal government to improve their data sharing system which indicates who is required to quarantine.

“Unfortunately, at this point, there is a significant delay with respect of the sharing of appropriate information in order to effect timely enforcement of isolation orders should that be necessary.”

De Villa said she hopes the federal government will use a data system that allows for “timely and effective transmittal of information” about arriving international travelers so that local authorities and enforcement can assist in quarantine compliance.

De Villa and Mayor John Tory are expected to speak at their daily news conference at 2 p.m. The mayor’s office says the general manager of the Emergency Management Chief Matthew Pegg will also be at present.

CBC