COVID-19: Orders, Directives & Bylaws

COVID-19: Orders, Directives & Bylaws

April 7, 2020

Mayor John Tory signed an emergency order No. 1 (April 1) and emergency order No. 2 (April 3) regulating physical distancing in City of Toronto parks and public squares. Any two people who don’t live together, who fail to keep two metres of distance between them in a park or public square, can receive a $1,000 ticket – the maximum set fine available. Officers could issue higher tickets that would be subject to the courts where fines could go up to $5,000 upon conviction.

Enforcement

A COVID-19 Enforcement Team will enforce:

• the physical distancing by-law (By-law 322-2020)

• provincial orders banning organized social gatherings of more than five people

• bans on using closed playgrounds and other parks amenities

• the closure orders on non-essential businesses that remain open

Fines for violating a provincial order under the Emergency Measures Act can range from $750 to $100,000, including up to one year in jail.

The enforcement team will be responding to complaints and proactively patrolling parks and other public spaces, in an effort to ensure public understanding of the need to limit social interactions.

Learn about the closure of amenities in parks.

Medical Officer of Health Directive & Class Order

On April 1, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health issued new directives to residents of Toronto:

•  The following individuals are ordered by the Medical Officer of Health, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, to self-isolate (at home or in an isolation facility) for 14 days:

— All individuals with COVID-19 who are not hospitalized;

— All individuals with signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or who are waiting for their test results; and

— All individuals who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or has the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

•  Anyone who is not ill or has not travelled, is strongly directed to stay home except for the following reasons:

— accessing healthcare or medication

— shopping for groceries once per week

— walking their dogs

— getting daily exercise while maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres

• People returning from international travel must stay home (already a federal order )
Anyone over the age of 70, as the Province announced, is strongly encouraged to stay home as much as possible.

ONTARIO
How to stop the spread

• Self-isolate immediately if you have returned from travel outside Canada.

• Practise physical distancing – stay 2 metres away from others.

• Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.

• Clean phones and other devices regularly.

(PRESS RELEASE)