A quick look outside today shows dark and dreary skies... but that won't be the case for the entire week, as sunshine and high temperatures are expected in Toronto over the weekend. And while the much-needed dose of spring weather might be exactly what the doctor ordered during this trying time, residents need to be smart and stay home to further stop the spread of the virus.
That's right, after what has felt like the slowest start to the season imaginable, the weather forecast for this weekend shows a high of 17ºC and a mix of sun and clouds on Saturday, followed by a high of 18ºC and sunshine with a chance of showers on Sunday, according to Environment Canada.
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While a sunshine-filled weekend does sound incredible, it's more important than ever that residents remain vigilant by staying home and practising proper physical distancing if the city wants to see real progress being made.
And trust us, we get it, it’s very tempting to be outside when the sun is shining especially during the weekend, but we have to make sure we stay on top of curbing the spread of COVID-19 so things can eventually return to normal.
Environment Canada
The province is in a pivotal period when it comes to winning the war against the novel coronavirus: just last week health officials said Ontario has reached its COVID-19 community case peak and the daily increase of new cases has been beginning to decrease (though just today Toronto saw another spike).
Those who choose to go out and gather in parks or at the city's 'hot spots' are not only putting themselves and others at risk, they also risk receiving a pricey ticket from enforcement officers who will be patrolling these areas. Since April 3, the City has given out 536 tickets, with fines ranging in price from $750 to $1,000 – the maximum set fine available. However, officers can issue higher tickets that would be subject to the courts where fines could end up being as high as $5,000 upon conviction.
“As we move into week seven of this pandemic, I know people want this pandemic to be over as soon as possible. But I also know you want this to be over safely. I want us to protect the health of each and every resident and save as many lives as we can," said Mayor John Tory.
"We have made progress and your actions have saved lives. Residents have responded magnificently staying home and distancing themselves in a way that has saved lives. Please stay the course. It is working,” said Tory.
Toronto's chief medical officer, Dr. Eileen de Villa, is also stressing the need to continue practicing social distancing and for residents to only leave the house for essential reasons, noting restrictions will be eased sooner if people continue to heed public health advice.
So remember, do your part and stay home this weekend so Toronto can work towards reopening the city safely and we can all enjoy the nice weather together sooner rather than later.
