Toronto and Peel issue orders to close workplaces with 5 or more COVID-19 cases

Toronto is following the lead of Peel’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Lawrence Loh as both public health regions are issuing an updated Section 22 Order on workplaces (Class Order for Workplaces with COVID-19) that will direct all businesses with five or more cases of COVID-19 in the previous 14 days to close for 10 days where:

• The cases could have reasonably acquired their infection at work, or
• No obvious source of infection has been identified outside of the workplace.

As easily transmitted COVID-19 variants of concern spread quickly throughout Toronto and the GTA, outbreaks are increasingly linked to workplaces, where the virus can spread through close contact between workers.

“Workplaces that are open provide an opportunity for COVID-19 to spread. Given that the majority of our cases are now as a result of variants of concern, which transmit faster, this order will support Toronto Public Health’s investigators to help workplaces immediately reduce the risk of spread and manage workplace outbreaks quickly,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health, Toronto Public Health.

“Finally we are targeting where the spread is happening,” said Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.

Peel Public Health strongly recommends that employers directed to close under this Order provide paid leave for impacted employees.

To reduce this significant risk to the health of residents, Toronto Public Health (TPH) and Peel Public Health will issue a Section 22 order for workplaces. TPH says this order is a necessary tool to break the chains of transmission within Toronto workplaces where COVID-19 is determined to be spreading.

• The Order is planned to require the closure of certain workplaces, or portions of workplaces, where five or more confirmed cases are identified within a 14-day period and where cases could reasonably have been acquired through infection in the workplace.
• The workplace closure will be in effect for a minimum period of 10 calendar days with day 1 starting the day after the business is  notified  that they must close..
• During this time, workers at the affected workplace will be required to self-isolate.
• Certain workplaces, such as health care facilities, schools, child care centres, and workplaces providing critical services may be exempt from full closure requirements.

Toronto’s order will be available on the City of Toronto website, when issued, by Friday April 23, 2021.

While Peel says the names of all their “affected businesses will be published on our web site while they are closed. This list will not be published until the first businesses affected are notified this week.”

“We are doing everything we can as a City government to help essential workers facing the third wave of this virus. This Section 22 order is meant to help slam the brakes on workplace outbreaks that we know are moving much faster due to the variants of concern,” said Mayor John Tory. “I urge all employers to follow the public health advice to stop outbreaks and protect their employees including against the financial consequences of illness,” said Tory.

Given the high case counts and number of workplace outbreaks in both Toronto and Peel, TPH has been working on the development of this order with Region of Peel Public Health. A similar authority was recently delegated by the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, where workplaces are being closed for 10 days when employees test positive for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 situation is serious with case counts that are the highest they have been since the beginning of the pandemic. While TPH will apply every measure within its authority, the assistance of every sector of society is critical in responding effectively to wave. Employers that continue to be open must:

• Re-evaluate their operations to determine whether every possible person who can work remotely is currently doing so.
• Have a safety plan.
• Ensure to keep distance between employees, screen employees daily and immediately report more than two cases in their workplace.

TPH says it was one of the first health units in Canada to publish workplace outbreak information and will continue to do so on Toronto COVID-19 website. Information to support workplaces to prevent and manage COVID-19 can be found on the City of Toronto’s website.

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