COVID-19 Government and International Response: July 29, 2020

WHAT TO KNOW

Global COVID-19 cases have reached 17,040,985, up from 16,536,894 at 3:30 p.m. Monday. Canada now reports 115,246 cases, up from 113,911 cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Ontario reports 38,986  cases, up from 38,799 cases on Monday.

The growth rate of new cases in the province is still under 1% — and dipped below 100 for the first time since March — with 76 (0.2%) new cases reported since yesterday. Of the province’s total cases, 34,741 have been resolved (89.1%) and there have been 2,769 deaths (7.1%). The province has now completed 2,114,263 tests and reports 18,268 tests are currently under investigation. More information here. The City of Toronto reported only 1 new case of COVID yesterday.

A province-by-province breakdown of Canada’s COVID-19 case count can be found here.

FEDERAL

As Canada emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, the minerals and metals industry will play an important role in the country’s economic recovery. In response to the pandemic, the government has introduced concrete actions to support the mineral and metal sectors including the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy and critical bridge financing for larger companies. More information here.

Today, the Canadian and Ontario governments jointly announced investments in modern transit for residents of Oakville and Brampton. In Oakville, government leaders announced funding for 14 projects today that will modernize Oakville’s transit system and create a more sustainable community. More information here. In Brampton, government leaders announced funding for four projects that will improve Brampton’s transit system and create a more sustainable community. More information here.

On July 27, Bill C-20, An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, received Royal Assent, ensuring that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will continue to protect jobs by helping businesses keep employees on the payroll and encouraging employers to re-hire workers previously laid off.  The broader and better targeted CEWS will make sure that Canadian workers and businesses are in a better position as our economy safely re-opens. More information here.

PROVINCIAL

Announced today, additional businesses and public spaces will be reopening as the Ontario government allows the City of Toronto and Peel Region to move into Stage 3 of reopening the province on Friday, July 31 at 12:01 a.m. This decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and local medical officers of health. It is based on positive local trends of key public health indicators, including lower transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing. More information here.

Today, the Ontario government launched an independent commission into COVID-19 and long-term care. Three commissioners will investigate how COVID-19 spread within long-term care homes, how residents, staff, and families were impacted, and the adequacy of measures taken by the province and other parties to prevent, isolate and contain the virus. The commission will also provide the government with guidance on how to better protect long-term care home residents and staff from any future outbreaks. More information here.

TORONTO

The City of Toronto is preparing to oversee the safe restart of more businesses and services following today’s Province of Ontario announcement that Toronto can enter Stage 3 of the provincial reopening this Friday, July 31. More information here.

Toronto City Council has voted in favour of a temporary bylaw requiring masks or face coverings in common areas in apartments and condominiums to protect the health and safety of our communities by reducing the spread of COVID-19. The strengthened safety measure responds to concerns that the opportunity for more close contact, especially in indoor settings, will result in more virus spread. More information here.

As part of the next phase of reopening child care centres, the City of Toronto will reopen 10 Toronto Early Learning & Child Care Centres (TELCCC) by August 4 to support parents returning to work and to support the restart of the economy. Two centres opened on July 23 and eight more centres will reopen by August 4. More information here.

On July 28, the City Solicitor and Medical Officer of Health submitted reports to City Council on measures that can be taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in food and drink establishments, condominiums and apartment buildings, and strengthen the City’s response to a potential second wave of COVID-19 activity in our community. More information here.

INTERNATIONAL