Response to COVID-19 - December 2021 Update

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The decision

2021-12-15 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on December 15, 16 and 17, 2021, adopted the following: 1. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to negotiate, enter into, execute and extend any agreements with physicians providing medical services and advice to Toronto Public Health as part of the response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic until December 31, 2023, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

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2. City Council extend By-laws 541-2020 and 664-2020 that require people wear masks or face coverings in enclosed areas of businesses and other organizations that are open to the public and in enclosed common areas of apartments and condominiums, until 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the City Council meeting currently scheduled for April 2022 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. 3. 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 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the City Council meeting currently scheduled for April 2022 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. 4. 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 currently scheduled April 2022 meeting. 5. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills and apply for 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 (December 14, 2021) from the Deputy Medical Officer of Health. 6. City Council delegate authority to the City Manager to approve payment of overtime, at straight time, to non-union employees for over-time hours worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. 7. City Council submit a budget to the Province of Ontario that includes overtime as an eligible extraordinary pandemic-related expense in line with the eligibility criteria of the Provincial Safe Restart funding arrangement.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

This report provides an update on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic as of December 2021, and responds to Board of Health direction from October 2021 to report back with a range of updates on Toronto Public Health (TPH) pandemic-related efforts. The most recent epidemiology shows a consistent increase in the 7-day moving average number of reported daily COVID-19 cases, the reproductive number and the test positivity rate and has prompted the provincial government to pause re-opening plans.

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Regulations under the Reopening Ontario Act enable local health units to institute additional public health measures, if necessary, and the need for these in Toronto will be continuously reviewed. Efforts to respond to the pandemic continue to advance on multiple fronts. Toronto Public Health continues to support school boards and schools in providing information for parents and staff about managing school attendance during the current conditions, including screening, outbreak management and vaccines. Vaccine rollout continues with third doses for eligible individuals and, with the recent approval of the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine by Health Canada, preparations are underway for vaccinating children aged 5-11 years, pending receipt of pediatric vaccine. Toronto Public Health's pandemic response and immunization campaign has benefited from the support of additional medical expertise. Given the continuing need for this expertise, this report seeks authorization from City Council to negotiate, enter into, execute, and extend any agreements with physicians providing medical services and advice to Toronto Public Health until December 2023, as part of the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff recommended

The Medical Officer of Health recommends that: 1. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to negotiate, enter into, execute, and extend any agreements with physicians providing medical services and advice to Toronto Public Health as part of the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic until December 31, 2023, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Considered

2021-12-06 · Board of Health · adopted
Decision as filed
The Board of Health recommends that: 1. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to negotiate, enter into, execute and extend any agreements with physicians providing medical services and advice to Toronto Public Health as part of the response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic until December 31, 2023, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
Clerk’s note
The Board of Health considered Items HL32.1 and HL32.2 together. The Deputy Medical Officer of Health gave a presentation on Response to COVID-19: December 2021 Update.
2021-12-15 · Toronto City Council · amended

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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