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←Board of Health · 2021-01-18 · 2021.HL25.3

The filed record

Response to COVID-19 - January 2021 Update

The Public Gallery wrote no story on this item. What follows is the city’s own record of what happened to it, as filed: nothing on this page is summarised or scored by us.

The decision

2021-02-02 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on February 2, 3 and 5, 2021, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the Federal Government to provide funding to the City of Toronto to support the City of Toronto's COVID-19 Immunization Task Force's plan for a broad-based community engagement, education, and mobilization campaign to raise awareness and build support for the COVID-19 vaccine. 2. City Council request the Federal Government to ensure that ethnic media is utilized in any Federal COVID-19 awareness and education campaign.

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3. City Council request the Governments of Canada and Ontario to consider enhanced and extended paid sick leave options, over and above the recommended 10 days, for employees with long-term COVID-19 complications. 4. City Council urge the Government of Ontario to take immediate action to address the rising rate of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units, including the following: a. provide additional supports to essential frontline workers, including paid sick leave, targeted support for temporary workers and enhanced proactive workplace inspections; b. continue efforts to expand test, trace and isolate systems; c. provide additional financial relief to ensure that affected businesses and workers are fully supported through the lockdown period; d. continue to carefully monitor the Provincial circumstances and other evidence in order to adjust public health measures accordingly; and e. proactively plan to reopen schools and other sectors safely. 5. City Council request the Government of Ontario to: a. require employers in Ontario to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers, after three months of employment, through amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, or through a different mechanism; b. provide necessary funding, fiscal relief, and/or supports to employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the event of a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and c. ensure all workers in Ontario have access to protected and paid emergency leave so that care can be provided to children, parents, or other family members who may become ill. 6. City Council request the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to provide resources and funding to support workplaces that hire temporary workers to appropriately train staff in the use of Personal Protective Equipment and infection prevention and control measures. 7. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to implement the Immunization Roll Out program, including entering into agreements or other suitable arrangements to provide funding to community agencies to partner with the City of Toronto on the Community Engagement and Mobilization component of the Immunization Roll Out program until the end of 2021, to be funded by the Province of Ontario as a component of the COVID-19 Immunization Plan in Toronto. 8. City Council extend By-laws 322-2020 and 323-2020 that regulate physical distancing in public spaces in Toronto, until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the City Council meeting currently scheduled for June 8 and 9, 2021 or, if that City Council meeting does not take place as scheduled, until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the first City Council meeting that next occurs. 9. City Council extend By-law 541-2020, as amended by By-law 664-2020, that requires businesses, apartments and condominiums to have policies to ensure people wear masks or face coverings in common areas, until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the City Council meeting currently scheduled for June 8 and 9, 2021 or, if that City Council meeting does not take place as scheduled, until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the first City Council meeting that next occurs. 10. City Council extend the COVID-19 amendments to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 354, Apartment Buildings (Section 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 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the City Council meeting currently scheduled for June 8 and 9, 2021 or, if that City Council meeting does not take place as scheduled, until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the first City Council meeting that next occurs. 11. City Council extend the COVID-19 amendments to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing (Section 545-8.4.1) that require establishments serving food and drink to implement enhanced measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including screening staff, limiting patrons, maintaining customer logs and limiting the number of people sitting at a table until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the City Council meeting currently scheduled for June 8 and 9, 2021 or, if that City Council meeting does not take place as scheduled, until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the first City Council meeting that next occurs. 12. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health review the necessity of each By-law on a monthly basis and report if any changes or extensions are required before or at City Council's June 8 and 9, 2021 meeting. 13. 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 the supplementary report (January 25, 2021) from the Medical Officer of Health.

The vote

Adopt Item as Amended · Carried, 24-2

For (24)Ana Bailão, Anthony Perruzza, Brad Bradford, Cynthia Lai, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata, Gary Crawford, Gord Perks, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, Jennifer McKelvie, Joe Cressy, John Filion, John Tory, Josh Matlow, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Mark Grimes, Michael Ford, Michael Thompson, Mike Layton, Nick Mantas, Paul Ainslie, Paula Fletcher, Shelley Carroll
Against (2)Mike Colle, Stephen Holyday
The whole record, all 26 members

Every name opens that member’s record.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

This report provides an update on the COVID-19 pandemic locally and the City of Toronto's COVID-19 Immunization Task Force's (ITF) planning. It also outlines Toronto Public Health's (TPH) response to COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces, provides an update on the launch of TPH equity indicators on the TPH COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard, outlines supports intended to facilitate self-isolation for families due to COVID-19 infection in a household, and provides information on the importance of paid sick leave provisions, particularly for essential workers, in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

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On December 21, 2020, the Provincial Government announced that Ontario would be moving into the "Grey - Lockdown" level of the Province's Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework as of December 26, 2020. Toronto has been in the "Grey - Lockdown" level since November 24, 2020 and will remain at this level until at least January 23, 2021. These restrictions remain in place in response to the continuing significant rate of COVID-19 spread in Toronto. The COVID-19 ITF continues to plan for the roll-out of the vaccine to all Toronto residents in order to protect everyone against COVID-19 infection and end the pandemic. As of the end of 2020, over 50,000 doses have been received in Toronto and these are being administered to residents, essential care providers and staff of long-term care homes and retirement homes. In early 2021, it is expected that another 50,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines will be available for administration in Toronto. On September 21, 2020, the Board of Health (BOH) requested TPH to publicly share details of workplace outbreaks while respecting privacy requirements. TPH has developed a process to share anonymized outbreak information related to community and workplace settings on its website. These details are expected to become publicly available early in 2021. On October 19, 2020, the BOH requested TPH to expand the TPH COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard to include equity indicators. In consultation with key equity-seeking stakeholders, TPH will be expanding the TPH COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard in February 2021 to include three equity indicators on income, ethno-racial group and neighbourhoods. These indicators will provide insight into how well the response to the pandemic is contributing to a reduction in COVID-19 related socio-demographic inequities and will support TPH decision-making. During the pandemic, it has become increasingly evident that paid sick leave provisions are essential to protect the health of individual workers, their workplaces, and the broader community. This report recommends that the Government of Ontario require employers in the province to provide no less than five paid sick days annually and provide necessary funding, fiscal relief and/or supports to employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually during a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff recommended

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. City Council and the Board of Health request the Federal Government to provide funding to the City of Toronto to support the City of Toronto's COVID-19 Immunization Task Force's plan for a broad-based community engagement, education, and mobilization campaign to raise awareness and build support for the COVID-19 vaccine. 2. City Council and the Board of Health request the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to provide resources and funding to support workplaces that hire temporary workers to appropriately train staff in the use of Personal Protective Equipment and infection prevention and control measures.

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3. The Board of Health request the Medical Officer of Health to engage Toronto's COVID-19 Community Cluster tables and other relevant stakeholders on the development of Toronto Public Health's equity indicators and include these indicators in the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard in February 2021. 4. City Council and the Board of Health request the Government of Ontario to: a. require employers in Ontario to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers, after three months of employment, through amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 or through a different mechanism; and b. provide necessary funding, fiscal relief, and/or supports to employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the event of a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 5. The Board of Health direct that this report be forwarded for information to the Federal Government, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, with a request that they review and consider Recommendation 4 above.

Considered

  • 2021-01-18 · Board of Health · amended

    Decision as filed

    The Board of Health recommends that: 1. City Council request the Federal Government to provide funding to the City of Toronto to support the City of Toronto's COVID-19 Immunization Task Force's plan for a broad-based community engagement, education, and mobilization campaign to raise awareness and build support for the COVID-19 vaccine. 2. City Council urge the Government of Ontario to take immediate action to address the rising rate of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and patients in intensive care units, including the following: a.

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    provide additional supports to essential frontline workers, including paid sick leave, targeted support for temporary workers, and enhanced proactive workplace inspections; b. continue efforts to expand test, trace, and isolate systems; c. provide additional financial relief to ensure that affected businesses and workers are fully supported through the lockdown period; d. continue to carefully monitor the Provincial circumstances and other evidence in order to adjust public health measures accordingly; and e. proactively plan to reopen schools and other sectors safely. 3. City Council request the Government of Ontario to: a. require employers in Ontario to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers, after three months of employment, through amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 or through a different mechanism; b. provide necessary funding, fiscal relief, and/or supports to employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the event of a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and c. ensure all workers in Ontario have access to protected and paid emergency leave so that care can be provided to children, parents, or other family members who may become ill. 4. City Council request the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to provide resources and funding to support workplaces that hire temporary workers to appropriately train staff in the use of Personal Protective Equipment and infection prevention and control measures.

    Clerk’s note

    The Board of Health: 1. Requested the Federal Government to provide funding to the City of Toronto to support the City of Toronto's COVID-19 Immunization Task Force's plan for a broad-based community engagement, education, and mobilization campaign to raise awareness and build support for the COVID-19 vaccine. 2. Urged the Government of Ontario to take immediate action to address the rising rate of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and patients in intensive care units, including the following: a.

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    provide additional supports to essential frontline workers, including paid sick leave, targeted support for temporary workers, and enhanced proactive workplace inspections; b. continue efforts to expand test, trace, and isolate systems; c. provide additional financial relief to ensure that affected businesses and workers are fully supported through the lockdown period; d. continue to carefully monitor the Provincial circumstances and other evidence in order to adjust public health measures accordingly; and e. proactively plan to reopen schools and other sectors safely. 3. Requested the Government of Ontario to collect and share disaggregated data based on race, income, occupation, neighbourhood, and housing status as part of the Provincial COVID-19 immunization data system. 4. Requested the Government of Ontario to: a. require employers in Ontario to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers, after three months of employment, through amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 or through a different mechanism; b. provide necessary funding, fiscal relief, and/or supports to employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the event of a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and c. ensure all workers in Ontario have access to protected and paid emergency leave so that care can be provided to children, parents, or other family members who may become ill. 5. Called on the Government of Ontario to recognize supportive housing as a public health measure to protect vulnerable and marginalized residents who are experiencing homelessness and provide $48 million in annual ongoing operating funding to create and maintain 2,000 new permanent supportive housing opportunities by mid-2022, with $12.24 million per year required immediately (and ongoing annually) to operationalize 510 supportive housing units and an additional $14.11 million per year starting in September 2021 (and ongoing annually) to operationalize an additional 588 supportive housing units in Toronto in 2021, as requested by Toronto City Council in December 2020 (Item 2020.PH19.11, Emergency Housing Action). 6. Requested the Ontario Ministry of Health to publicly provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed phased vaccine prioritization framework, including a specific breakdown of the individuals and groups who will be prioritized in Phase 2 of the Ontario COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Implementation Plan. 7. Requested the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to require employers to ensure that existing and future sick leave provisions, including protections against repercussions by employers when workers access sick leave and follow public health guidelines, are clearly communicated to workers and management in multiple languages. 8. Requested the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to provide resources and funding to support workplaces that hire temporary workers to appropriately train staff in the use of Personal Protective Equipment and infection prevention and control measures. 9. Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the Fire Chief and General Manager, Emergency Management, and Toronto's COVID-19 Incident Commander, and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to report to the March 22, 2021 meeting of the Board of Health with detailed breakdowns of immunization plans for all priority populations and vulnerable groups, such as people experiencing homelessness, people living in congregate settings, and essential frontline workers, by the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto, and Toronto Public Health, including overcoming vaccine hesitancy. 10. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report in 2021 on the status and trends in workplace COVID-19 outbreak data and any new Provincial safety measures for essential workplaces and essential workers. 11. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to publicly post, on a weekly basis, the names of workplaces with COVID-19 outbreaks, as closely aligned with other summary reports as possible, in a manner that maintains and protects individual privacy and that is based on the Provincial outbreak definition of two or more cases over a 14-day period. 12. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to engage Toronto's COVID-19 Community Cluster tables and other relevant stakeholders on the development of Toronto Public Health's equity indicators and include these indicators in the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard in February 2021. 13. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to explore any opportunity to directly collect disaggregated data as part of Toronto Public Health's COVID-19 immunization campaign. 14. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to consider and implement any additional measures or restrictions necessary to halt the spread of COVID-19, in partnership with Ontario's Public Health Units and the Government of Ontario or under their own powers under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. 15. Directed that the report (January 5, 2021) from the Medical Officer of Health be forwarded for information to the Federal Government, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, with a request that they review and consider Part 4 above. The Medical Officer of Health, the Fire Chief and General Manager, Emergency Management, and Toronto's COVID-19 Incident Commander, and the Director, Community Resources, Social Development, Finance and Administration, gave a presentation on Response to COVID-19: Update Presentation to the Board of Health.

  • 2021-02-02 · Toronto City Council · amended

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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