Item - 2020.HL20.1

That City Council adopt the following recommendations in the supplementary report (September 28, 2020) from the Medical Officer of Health [HL20.1a]:

1. City Council urge the Province of Ontario and the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces by supporting physical distancing in workplaces and mandating masks when physical distancing is not possible.

2. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing as follows:

a. Reduce the total number of patrons permitted at any one time in an establishment that serves food and drink from 100 to 75, subject to any exemptions as determined by the Medical Officer of Health or their designate;

b. Require establishments that serve food and drink to maintain a customer log for each patron;

c. Reduce the maximum number of people able to sit at each table in an establishment that serves food and drink, both inside and outside, from 10 to six people;

d. Require that background music and any other background sounds, such as from televisions or other electronic sound producing devices, in an establishment that serves food and drink must be no louder than the volume of normal conversation (does not apply to performing arts regulated under O. Reg. 364/20 Rules for Areas in Stage 3 under s.11, Performing Arts); and

e. Extend existing COVID-19 measures (s.545.8.4.1), until the end of City Council’s first meeting of 2021.

3. City Council extend Bylaws 322-2020 and 323-2020 that regulate physical distancing in public spaces in Toronto, until the end of City Council’s first meeting of 2021.

4. City Council extend Bylaws 541-2020 and 664-2020, that require businesses, apartments and condominiums to have policies to ensure people wear masks or face coverings in common areas, until the end of City Council’s first meeting of 2021.

5. City Council extend the COVID-19 amendments to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 354, Apartment Buildings (s.354-3.11), that require landlords to provide hand washing/sanitizing in common areas, close non-essential common areas consistent with provincial orders, increase cleaning and post Toronto Public Health signage, until the end of City Council’s first meeting of 2021.

6. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to review the necessity of each bylaw on a monthly basis, and report if any changes or extensions are required before or at City Council’s first meeting of 2021.

7. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills and apply set fines to give effect to City Council's decision; and, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, or technical amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, in order to give best effect to the Medical Officer of Health's recommendations for the protection of the public as described in this report.

That:

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to explore ways the City government can support the restaurant industry through winter patio options.

2. City Council support the Government of Ontario in any actions it takes with the insurance industry to support small and medium businesses by preventing astronomical increases in their insurance policies and premiums.

3. City Council advise the Government of Ontario that it supports extending Regulation 719 through 2021 so that liquor sales licensees can continue to sell beer, wine and spirits as part of a food order for takeout or delivery.

4. City Council request the Government of Ontario to continue the pause on commercial evictions until the COVID resurgence eases.

5. City Council support the Government of Canada's commitment in the Throne Speech to support the industries hardest hit by COVID-19, including hospitality, travel, tourism and cultural industries as these businesses need financial supports when they are required to reduce hours or shut down due to public health advice, to ensure they are able to remain solvent and re-open.

That City Council urge the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to provide financial support to employees and businesses affected by current and potential future public health measures to control the spread of COVID-19.

That City Council request the Medical Officer of Health, in coordination with Provincial and Regional partners, to consider any additional measures that may be required to maintain a COVID-19 reproduction rate below 1.0, including but not limited to:

a.  targeted restrictions and requirements for commercial settings at higher potential risk for transmission;

b.  additional restrictions on social gatherings in private and commercial settings;

c.  methods to enhance the use or uptake of personal protective measures;

d.  screening for signs and symptoms at more public locations where people gather;

e.  additional dedicated resources for targeted outreach, inspection and education;

f.  enhanced promotion of COVID Alert, Canada's exposure notification app, through the various channels available to Toronto Public Health and the City of Toronto; and

g. additional measures in gyms and fitness studios, including safe distancing and requiring masks or face coverings be worn at all times including while actively engaging in an athletic or fitness activity.

That City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to look at some of the best practices in Taiwan that may be adopted in Toronto to help control the Second Wave of COVID-19.

That City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services to seek and review opportunities to augment Municipal Licensing and Standards services through various means, including internal reallocation, as a way to support the necessary COVID-19 and business service levels, and to report to the Executive Committee.

That:

1.  The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health, in coordination with Provincial and Regional partners, to consider any additional measures that may be required to maintain a COVID-19 reproduction rate below 1.0, including but not limited to:

a.  targeted restrictions and requirements for commercial settings at higher potential risk for transmission;

b.  additional restrictions on social gatherings in private and commercial settings;

c.  methods to enhance the use or uptake of personal protective measures;

d.  screening for signs and symptoms at more public locations where people gather;

e.  additional dedicated resources for targeted outreach, inspection, and education; and

f.  enhanced promotion of COVID Alert, Canada's exposure notification app, through the various channels available to Toronto Public Health and the City of Toronto.

2.  The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to continue efforts to scale up Toronto Public Health's COVID-19 resurgence response, including:

a.  case and contact management capacity;

b.  support for congregate settings such as schools, child care centres, long-term care facilities, and shelters; and

c.  targeted support for marginalized and vulnerable populations and communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

3.  The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to implement a system to publicly share details of workplace outbreaks without compromising individual privacy, similar to existing systems in place for shelters, long-term care facilities, and schools.

4.  The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to continue to support the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, in the implementation of the COVID-19 Interim Shelter Recovery Strategy.

5.  The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to provide a letter of support for intergovernmental funding requests that address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Toronto.

6.  The Board of Health and City Council urge the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care to fund on-site, dedicated infection prevention and control expertise at each long-term care facility and invest in training for existing practitioners to contribute to system-wide improvements related to infection prevention and control.

7.  The Board of Health and City Council urge the Ontario Ministry of Health to increase testing capacity and develop an enhanced testing strategy aimed at suspected cases, contacts, and high-risk/high-need situations, including workplaces, schools, and neighbourhoods.

8.  The Board of Health and City Council urge the Ontario Ministry of Health to expedite, in collaboration with the Federal Government and local public health units, the rapid implementation of new testing technologies, such as at-home and saliva-based tests, for the proactive surveillance of COVID-19.

9.  The Board of Health and City Council urge the Province of Ontario to take all necessary steps to improve the turnaround time for laboratory tests and achieve the timely reporting of positive results to individuals and local public health units.

10.  The Board of Health and City Council urge the Federal Government to implement a data system that will quickly transmit information about arriving international travellers to local authorities to support better compliance with the Quarantine Act.

11.  The Board of Health and City Council urge the Federal Government to expedite, in collaboration with the Province of Ontario and local public health units, the rapid implementation of new testing technologies, such as at-home and saliva-based tests, for the proactive surveillance of COVID-19.

12.  City Council request the City Manager to provide a presentation to the Board of Health in the fall of 2020 on the recommendations from the Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild.

That:

1.  City Council request the Federal and Provincial Governments to strictly enforce travel restrictions with regard to COVID-19, including the mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors and travel by "essential" workers.

2.  City Council request the City Manager to work with the Federal and Provincial Governments to ensure the enforcement of existing quarantine rules for visitors to, and residents of, Toronto.