Over the Easter long-weekend, officers ticketed 48 people for breaking COVID-19 By-laws – sadly, this past weekend wasn't much better.
The City of Toronto's COVID-19 Enforcement Team, made up of staff from Municipal Licensing & Standards, Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Building, and Toronto Police Service, was once again out over the weekend, working to ensure both people and businesses are following public health direction and provincial orders.
READ: Toronto Could Face Budget Shortfall of Nearly $2.8 Billion Because of COVID-19: Tory
In total, the City received 156 complaints involving people using outdoor amenities or not practising physical distancing in parks, and issued 28 tickets. This brings the total number of tickets issued to people found to be breaking COVID-19 By-laws to 401. Officers first began issuing tickets on April 3.
The Star is reporting that a By-law officer was assaulted on Friday after trying to issue a ticket.
The City also received 25 complaints related to non-essential businesses remaining open. Since March 24, when non-essential businesses would be in violation of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 44 tickets and 124 notices have been issued to non-essential businesses.
The City also reports Trinity Bellwoods Park as the most problematic park in Toronto "when it comes to people flaunting regulations" put in place to help save lives.
As of this morning, Toronto has 3,546 cases of COVID-19 – both confirmed and probable. While a total of 173 people have died of COVID-19 in the city.
