Toronto providing new data on COVID-19 outbreaks at workplaces across the city

Posted January 4, 2021 2:47 pm.
Last Updated January 4, 2021 4:17 pm.
The City of Toronto is implementing added information with additional health and safety criteria so residents better understand and are warned of COVID-19 outbreaks at the workplace.
On Monday, Toronto’s medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, revealed several added protocols when it comes to managing and containing the virus.
Among them, de Villa said employers and businesses are now required to notify Toronto Public Health (TPH)as soon as they become aware of two or more employees with COVID-19.
“These actions are meant to support employment, businesses, and the economy during the pandemic by supporting conditions where people can work and do business in safer and healthier circumstances,” she said.
“The one thing COVID-19 really can’t endure is distance. These are distance measures in many respects.”
Recommendations from TPH on workplace outbreaks are as follows:
- Immediately notifying TPH of two or more people who test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days that are connected to the workplace setting by calling 416-338-7600.
- If two or more people test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days that are connected to a workplace, the employer must provide a designated contact to work with TPH to immediately implement any additional required measures to reduce virus spread.
- Providing contact information for all workers within 24 hours to support case and contact tracing, and notify the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development and any other relevant government authorities.
- Following enhanced infection prevention and control recommendations to help reduce virus spread such as ensuring hand sanitizer and hand-washing facilities are available, and that there is rigorous and frequent environmental cleaning in all high-touch public areas.
- Conducting a regular review of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to ensure they are functioning well.
- Minimizing instances of more than one individual travelling together in a vehicle for work, or ensuring face coverings are worn in the vehicle and driving with the windows open.
- Ensuring a two metre physical distancing between workers throughout the workplace in lunchrooms, change rooms and washrooms. This includes installing one-way walkways to reduce close physical interactions and implementing physical barriers, such as plexiglass, when physical distancing is not possible.
Workplaces across the city account for the second-highest number of outbreaks outside of the healthcare sector. There are currently 28 active outbreaks in Toronto workplaces.
Prior to Monday’s announcement, businesses were under no obligation to report COVID-19 outbreaks publicly.
Toronto Public Health’s website will be updated every Thursday with details on COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace.
“Even during the lockdown, we know there are many people who can’t work from home. I urge all businesses permitted to operate under the Reopening Ontario Act to do the right thing and follow these additional measures to protect their employees and help protect the health of all Toronto residents, Mayor John Tory said.
“…These are recommendations based on the best public health advice we have and will help keep people safe while ensuring businesses can stay open.”
Ahead of the new year, De Villa said that every neighbourhood in Toronto would qualify for Ontario’s red zone of restrictions, the second-highest level in the province’s recovery framework.
Toronto’s top doctor maintained that distance is the greatest resource to curving the spread of the second wave and that it is a “critical” time when it comes to making a difference in limiting further transmission of the virus.
Last week, Tory announced that emergency daycare services would be available for front-line workers as Toronto’s lockdown continues into January.
Ontario is reporting 3,270 cases of COVID-19 and over 39,100 tests completed on Monday.
Locally, there are 917 new cases in Toronto, 581 in Peel, 389 in York Region, 246 in Windsor-Essex County, and 131 in Ottawa.