Additional supports coming for communities severely impacted by COVID-19, says Tory

As Toronto enters a new lockdown Monday, Mayor John Tory says an additional package of supports for those living in communities hardest hit by COVID-19 is coming.

"We owe it to the most vulnerable to make sure that extra measures are provided, extra supports are provided in their fight against COVID-19," he said at a news conference Monday.

Tory said there will be expanded testing in the northwest parts of the city and northeast part in Scarborough that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

COVID-19 has exacerbated long-standing systemic health inequities related to racism, he said, noting Black people and racialized people who may be living in multi-generational households are at a far higher risk than others.

He added that data demonstrates that COVID-19 hot spot neighbourhoods are experiencing lower testing rates and higher positivity rates. These neighbourhoods often house more essential workers who feel pressure to go to work, even when sick, he said.

New supports involve a partnership with 11 community based organizations, and will include a broader sharing of public health information, expanded testing in harder hit neighbourhoods and increased public transportation to those testing sites.

Tory also said an eviction moratorium is crucial along with better access to emergency services.

"The city has been clear that the residential eviction ban in place earlier this year should continue. And we repeat that request to the provincial government again today," he said.

As well, mayors and chairs across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton have gathered this week and are now calling on companies and governments to reassure workers that self-isolation after a positive test will not result in job loss or loss of income, said Tory.

They are seeking additional assurances from the province that workplaces will be inspected to guarantee that they are following public health protocols, protecting workers and not requiring employees to be on the job while ill.

Testing hesitancy an issue in hard-hit areas: Cressy

Coun. Joe Cressy, also the city's board of health chair, said new support measures will be implemented immediately for neighbourhoods in the northeast and northwest.

Extra city facilities will be transformed into testing centres and buses will be retrofitted as mobile testing centres, he said.

Testing hesitancy continues to be an issue those communities are grappling with, said Cressy.

"For many residents, they're worried that a positive test result will mean staying home, which can mean lost income," he said.

WATCH | Premier Doug Ford addresses business closures during lockdown:

To address those concerns, the city is rolling out an outreach program that will be operated by "trusted local community outreach workers on the ground," he said.

Those workers will also help residents with access to the city's isolation centre, so they know they can isolate safely without infecting other family members.

Limit contact to support essential workers: de Villa

There are 331 new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto on Monday, along with 167 people in hospital. Forty-one of those people are in intensive care units, said Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city's medical officer of health, at the same news conference.

Since de Villa's last update on Wednesday, there have been 2,177 new cases of COVID-19 in the city, she said. Toronto has reported 45 per cent of all cases for entire pandemic since Oct. 1.

De Villa echoed Tory's comments in asking Toronto residents to stay home — as many essential workers do not have the option to do so.

City data shows the risk of infection for those who live in more severely impacted neighbourhoods is close to double other areas, which house more essential workers, she said.

"They're there because that's where we need them to be," she said. "So we owe it to them, those of us who can choose to keep more apart than others."

Tory also spoke about retailers doing their part to limit the spread as well by not holding in-person Black Friday sales this week.

"You are open by order of the province so residents can buy essentials. You are not open to cash in on Black Friday," he said.

Torontonians should engage with Black Friday sales online only, or use the curbside pickup option for smaller, independent retailers in the city, he said.

Charges laid after large weekend gatherings

Matthew Peg, Toronto's fire chief and head of emergency management, announced a series of charges laid over the weekend due to large gatherings. He also provided an update on a variety of other COVID-19-related violations reported in the last few days.

A large party in a storage unit held Friday night resulted in one charge, he said. Similarly, a crowded gathering on Lawrence Avenue West in the area of Allen Road on the same night resulted in 15 charges.

Enforcement teams also extinguished 35 bonfires on Toronto beaches over the weekend and laid 33 charges in relation to trespassing on beaches and parks. Another 39 charges were laid after complaints were called in to 311 about at-home gatherings.

Tory, de Villa address mental health, opioid crisis

The mental health of all residents, specifically those who are more impacted by the pandemic, is also a concern for the city and a " dramatic improvement and expansion of the mental health system" is required, Tory said in an interview Monday with CBC's Metro Morning.

"I mean, it's scandalous, really what we started with when the pandemic started. We should have been on a much better foundation before we began in terms of treatment programs for people with mental health and substance use issues," he said.

While the city has expanded it's 211 service — where residents can call a hotline to speak to a mental health professional directly — there's much more left to be done, he said.

In Toronto, as is the trend for Ontario overall, there's been a dramatic increase in opioid deaths over the course of the pandemic. A report from the start of November showed a total of 132 people in Toronto died between April 1 and Sept. 30 due to a suspected opioid overdose, nearly double the number from the same period in 2018 and 2019.

Toronto officials have urged actions to tackle the opioid crisis including further collaboration with other levels of government.

When asked about the increase in opioid-related deaths at the news conference, Tory said there hasn't been enough focus on the crisis.

While the city has a "significant" harm reduction program, more needs to be done through the provincial health-care system, he said.

De Villa also addressed opioid overdoses, stating that the city's board of health wants to move forward on recommendations to address the issue.

"COVID-19 has been an almost all consuming challenge for us to deal with. But that doesn't mean that we're not paying attention to other challenges," she said.

"So we continue to advance our overdose action plan. And we are certainly advocating at the other levels of government."