Mayor John Tory declared a State of Emergency in the city of Toronto on Monday after receiving advice from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health and the Office of Emergency Management.

 “We are declaring a State of Emergency as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the municipal government can continue to act and respond quickly to the pandemic and any other events that arise in the weeks ahead,” said the Mayor.

He noted that the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase in Toronto and that the next few days “are absolutely critical in our ongoing efforts to slow down the spread of COVID-19,”

Mayor Tory  called on residents “to continue taking every precaution in protecting themselves – stay home, stay safe, and only venture out to buy essential supplies once a week. Even better, order online if at all possible. ”

While thanking the residents and businesses “who are listening to public health advice and practising social distancing,”  Mayor Tory noted that” there are many who are continuing to put their health and the health of our community at risk. ”

” This declaration sends the strongest possible message to our residents to stay home and to change their behaviour,” he said,

Mayor Tory continues to ask all non-essential businesses to close – as the Medical Officer of Health has urged publicly – and as the Government of Ontario has ordered, said a news release from the  City of  Toronto.

It notes that to further contain the spread of COVID-19, the Ontario Government had ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces effective as of Tuesday last.

Mayor Tory supports this action by the province and has been clear that he will support further recommendations and orders from the Medical Officer of Health and the provincial and federal governments if people do not comply with the need to stay home, said the release.

The City of Toronto’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports, and economic recovery measures.