Toronto announces workplace closures, 4 fully shutdown as result of COVID-19
Posted April 26, 2021 2:40 pm.
Last Updated April 27, 2021 4:10 pm.
Toronto announced its first round of workplace closures Monday under new rules meant to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The City confirmed 11 businesses will be shuttered — seven partial closures and four fully closed — where COVID-19 has been deemed present.
Both Toronto and Peel’s public health units introduced the rules last week. The criteria were announced last Wednesday and came into effect in Toronto on April 23 at 12:01 a.m.
Mayor John Tory said Tuesday that the variety of workplaces illustrate the challenges of determining what’s considered essential, but called on the province to review which employers should be allowed to stay open during the pandemic’s third wave.
“It’s one of those things where it’s not a simple matter, but I think the answer is yes, (the province) should be continually reviewing that list,” he said.
“I understand that they are doing that, I have no idea if that’s going to lead to changes that they are going to make in that list.”
The City’s list of closed or partially closed workplaces
Toronto Workplace Closures 26 April 2021 by CityNewsToronto on Scribd
On Saturday, the City said it was investigating approximately 10 workplaces, adding that the primary objective and principal of its Section 22 Order is to separate employees from one another in workplaces where transmission of COVID-19 is identified.
Toronto and Peel Region’s public health units can shutter establishments where five or more workers have tested positive for the virus over a 14 day period.
The first set of shut-downs were detailed Monday evening, with the city saying it had ordered the full closure of four businesses and the partial closure of seven others.
They include a McDonald’s outlet, a Nissan dealership, and a facility owned by makeup manufacturer Deciem, as well as a construction firm, an aerospace manufacturer, and a dry-goods packager.
De Villa said that new closures will be announced every Thursday afternoon when the city releases its list of outbreaks online.
“I hope people find reassurance in the existence of this order,” said de Villa. “It’s meant to reduce risk on a carefully applied basis.”
Peel Region announced the closure of two Amazon fulfillment centres on Saturday.
The orders from Peel Public Health came into effect at midnight and required the businesses located at 8050 Heritage Road in Brampton and 12724 Coleraine Drive in Bolton to close for at least 10 days.
Affected workers are required to self-isolate and are also unable to work at other workplaces during the isolation period.
With files from The Canadian Press
