Thread by @jpags

Hello Toronto! Ford is about to announce new restrictions after we heard from experts about how something has to give to keep hospitals below capacity to provide critical patient care (see buds @jyangstar @katecallen for that). I’ll post here what the changes mean for the city:

These are *current* rules for whole province, including Toronto: thestar.com/news/city_hall…

It appears we should not expect a full lockdown or curfew. Ford scheduled to speak any minute. I’ll try to make this foolproof but rules are not always clear from initial provincial release

BREAKING: Province now in state of emergency for 28 days. A stay-at-home order is being issued for Thurs. at 12:01AM — everyone must stay home except for essential trips, medical appts. In-person classes in Toronto, several other regions will remain suspended until Feb. 10.

I don’t have full details yet on this order, but stay tuned. Ford calls it a “drastic” measure. “Everyone must stay home to save lives.” He says enforcement and inspections will increase. Workplace inspectors will have powers to disperse people and issue tickets, he says

There will be enforcement blitzes at box-box stores, Ford says.

So basically kids can't go back to class but you can still be out at 1AM even if you don't have an essential job without consequence.

OK, I have finished reading this very disorganized provincial press release and let me save you the trouble news.ontario.ca/en/release/599…

Here's what's new:
- The main thing is schools in Toronto, Peel, York, Hamilton and Windsor-Essex will remain closed for in-person classes until Feb. 10. This is the biggest update. In regions where classes do resume, Grades 1-3 must wear masks and masks must be worn outside

- "Non-essential" construction must stop but the province doesn't detail what is essential
- You can now only hang out with 5 people outside (down from 10)
- You should wear a mask even outside if you can't socially distance from people you don't live with

- Non-essential stores (this does not include grocers, pharmacies or restaurants) must now open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close by 8 p.m. There were previously no opening hours restrictions
- All employers must ensure that anyone who can work from home, does work from home

As far as I can tell, that's it. At risk of unprecedented case counts and hospitals being overwhelmed to the point workers will have to decide who lives and who dies, this is what the province has implemented.

Here is my story from the weekend on what stricter measures have been tried in other jurisdictions. The only one we're seeing announced today is further school closures. Eviction moratoriums being explored, but not announced today, release says thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Here's my story on today's announcement and what it means for Toronto and elsewhere: thestar.com/news/city_hall…

The premier's office has sent around what is an essential construction project. It's a long list that includes residential builds that have a footing permit and started before today (that is a lot of projects in Toronto)

If you do not have an essential job or staff a retail store/resto/bar allowed to remain open and are still going to the office, why? I've heard anecdotally about bosses being "old school" and tech/security issues, but we are 10 months into this and I genuinely don't understand.