May 20, 2021 Update

Dear Neighbours,

I would like to continue to thank everyone for their efforts during these difficult times. It has been difficult for everyone. We must continue to fight the spread of COVID-19 and keep ourselves and our community safe by following the public health measures in place. Remember, our mental health is paramount, we need to continue to take care of ourselves and seek support if needed.

*NEW* Today, the Ontario government released its three-step Roadmap to Safely Reopen the Province. Roadmap to Reopen outlines three steps to easing public health measures, guided by the following principles: • Step One An initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower, and permitting retail with restrictions. This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to four people per table and non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity. • Step Two Further expanding outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, overnight camps, personal care services where face coverings can be worn and with capacity limits, as well as indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity. • Step Three Expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness; indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with capacity limits.

The province will remain in each step for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators. If at the end of the 21 days, the following vaccination thresholds have been met, along with positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move to the next step: • Step 1: 60 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose. • Step 2: 70 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses. • Step 3: 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent vaccinated with two doses. Learn more at ontario.ca/reopen.

*NEW* City of Toronto working to reopen outdoor recreational amenities following the Province of Ontario's announcement that a number of amenities can reopen effective Saturday, May 22. Outdoor recreational amenities scheduled to reopen include golf courses, sports courts and fields, BMX and skate parks, picnic tables and shelters, outdoor fitness equipment and dry pads located at outdoor artificial ice rinks. Learn more in this news release.

*NEW* Book now! Long Weekend Dose Drive vaccination appointments still available – News Release. Yesterday the City of Toronto opened 19,000 new appointments at City-run immunization clinics for the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend. Total appointments over the weekend are now 73% booked. More than 15,115 appointments are still available this long weekend. Eligible residents can book now at www.toronto.ca/covid19 or by calling 1-833-943- 3900.

*NEW* Team Toronto Sprint Strategy adding seven more postal code areas for priority pop- up and mobile vaccine clinics – News Release. Team Toronto vaccination partners continue to prioritize postal code area with high rates of COVID-19 for mobile and pop-up clinics. New Sprint Strategy postal codes include M1H, M3A, M5T, M6A, M6E, M6N and M9R.

*NEW* Scarborough Health Network is hosting a few Family Pop-Up Clinics this weekend for individuals aged 12+ who live or work in a Scarborough (M1) hot spot postal code. • *TODAY, May 20 | 1pm-9pm | David & Mary Thomson CI, 125 Brockley Dr • Fri, May 21 | 10am-7pm | Bamburgh Gardens Shopping Plaza, 375 Bamburgh Circle • Sat, May 22 | 9am-5pm | Malvern Christian Assembly, 6705 Sheppard Ave E • Sun, May 23 | 10am-8pm | Islamic Foundation of Toronto, 441 Nugget Ave • Sun, May 23 | 10am-8pm | Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 1 Morningview Trl

Tickets will be provided for same-day appointments starting the morning of each clinic, on a first come, first served basis. These clinics will be administering first does of the Pfizer COVID- 19 vaccine. Young people must be 12 years old or older at the time of vaccination. People must bring proof of ID and address. For young people 12+, proof of ID includes a passport, PR card, report card plus ID of their parent or guardian present. OHIP is NOT required. Visit www.scarbvaccine.ca for more details and updates on Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics.

Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Pop-Up Clinics: • Sat, May 22 | 8am-until supplies last | East Toronto Health Partners Drive-Thru Vaccine Clinic for Toronto Seniors ages 65+ & their caregivers ages 18+ | 705 Warden Ave (Warden Station North Parking Lot | Drive-in only. No appointment required | See this poster for more details. • Fri, May 22 | Family Friendly Clinic open to those ages 12+ living or working in ANY Toronto hotspot | Victoria Park CI, 15 Wallingford Rd | Book online| Proof of ID for children include a report card plus parent ID | See this post for more information.

City of Toronto Immunization Clinic Eligibility: People ages 18+ are eligible to book a vaccination appointment. The full lust of eligible groups with information on how to register for appointments is available on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage. Eligible individuals can book through the provincial booking system at www.toronto.ca/covid19 or by calling 1-833-943-3900. You can also visit the VaccineTO website regularly to see if local clinics have available appointments.

Scarborough Health Network Community Vaccine Clinic Eligibility: People ages 18+ who are living or working in Scarborough can book a vaccination appointment at any of SHN’s community vaccine clinics. People who are ages 12+ are eligible to book a vaccination appointment at SHN’s Centennial College vaccine clinic. Proof of residency/workplace in Scarborough is required. People age 12-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information and to book an appointment please visit www.scarbvaccine.ca

COVID-19 Pharmacy Vaccine Locations & Eligibility: Select pharmacy locations in Toronto and Peel are administering the Pfizer vaccine to individuals aged 18+. Select pharmacy locations in Durham, Hamilton, Ottawa, Windsor and York are administering the Moderna vaccine to individuals aged 18+. For more information please visit this site.

Where to get accurate COVID-19 vaccine information There is a lot of incorrect information about the COVID-19 vaccines on social media and group chats, such as WhatsApp. Accurate and trusted information can be found on the City’s COVID- 19: Vaccines webpage. If you have questions about the vaccines, you should speak with your doctor or health care provider.

Toronto Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Town Hall for Parents/Guardians of Students (age 12-17). Dr. Vinita Dubey, Associate Medical Officer of Health, will provide a presentation and answer questions about COVID-19 vaccines available in Canada, vaccine safety and benefits, how to get vaccinated and who is eligible and ways to reduce COVID-19 spread. No registration is required. Choose from three upcoming session dates on May 25, May 26 or May 29.

City of Toronto-Vaccine Hunters Canada to help residents quickly find available vaccine appointments at City-run clinics. Vaccine appointment availability at all nine City clinics and will be displayed @VaxHuntersCan. More information is available on the City website.

City of Toronto COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic – Locations Map. All COVID-19 Immunization Clinics across the city, including City-run facilities, pharmacies and hospitals, are now mapped on the City’s website. Residents can search for the clinic closest to them by location or address. Additional Ward 24 specific vaccination sites can be found here. Residents must register for an appointment.

Do you need help getting to your vaccination appointment? The City’s Vaccine Equity Transportation Plan is piloting transportation services for individuals age 55+ who may be unable to access or afford existing transportation options to get to their vaccination appointments. Eligible residents can book their vaccination appointment at www.toronto.ca/covid-19 then book a ride contact with Toronto Ride, iRide or Scarborough Ride.

Vaccine Appointment booking for residents without OHIP Cards. Resident without OHIP cards who meet current vaccine eligibility criteria can request assistance to book their vaccination appointment at a City-run immunization clinic by contacting FCJ Refugee Centre, Access Alliance or Toronto Public Health. Residents without an OHIP card may use other forms of identification to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment through agency partners. For more details and contact information please see this page.

In-Home Vaccination for Homebound Persons If you are a homebound person receiving care through a Primary Care Provider, Family Health Team, Home or Community Care or Community Support Services or Agencies, please contact your provider to learn whether they are able to offer in-home vaccination.

If you are homebound person who does not have a Primary Care Provider, Family Health Team, Home or Community Care or Community Support Services, please contact the Toronto Seniors Help Line at 416-217-2077 or by webchat at www.torontoseniorshelpline.ca/web-chat

COVID-19 tests are available at assessment centres, pop-up and mobile testing facilities and pharmacies. Learn more about COVID-19 testing locations and eligibility, including locations of upcoming pop-up testing sites, by visiting toronto.ca/COVID19Testing.The website features a map to help you easily find a testing location near you.

City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of May 20, 2021) There has been an increase of 555 COVID-19 cases in the City with 998 people hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City has seen a total of 163,569 cases of COVID-19, of these, 152,814 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 3,297 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.

City of Toronto COVID-19 Vaccination Update: Together, the City of Toronto, healthcare partners, pharmacies and Toronto Public Health have now administered more than one million COVID-19 vaccines. To date 1,825,813 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Toronto. Toronto is the first local health region in Canada to administer more than one million doses of vaccine. Vaccination dose data can be found on the City’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard.

The City of Toronto remains subject to the province wide Stay-at-Home Order until June 2, 2021. The provincial wide shutdown requires all residents to remain home except for essential purposes. I encourage everyone to review the Province's COVID-19 public health measures and advice, the City’s Guide for Toronto Residents and Changes to City Services for the most up-to-date information on public health guidelines and regulations.

Parks, Forestry and Recreation launched the first set of virtual Safeguard classes! The Lifesaving Society Safeguard Program is a 4-hour long virtual water safety supervision training for youth who accompany groups of children to pools or waterfronts. Register for this virtual program at www.toronto.ca/virtualrec

*TONIGHT* Ward Forum: Transition to High School on Thursday May 20, 2021 from 7pm to 8:30pm. Join your TDSB Trustees to learn more about Grade 9. There will be breakout rooms for each school, and principals and superintendents will be available to answer your questions. For more information and how to join the forum please see this flyer.

Little Scarborough Centre: Calling all kids! Toronto City Planning wants to hear YOUR ideas of Our Scarborough Centre. Re-imagine our map of the area to include the buildings, parks, shops, pathways and other elements you’d like to see in the future. Send in photos of your creation. For more details on how to participate please visit this site.

Seniors Services and Long-Term Care: Family Council Ontario Guest Webinar with Patient Ombudsman. Ontario’s Patient Ombudsman will provide an update on his office’s work in long-term care. The zoom webinar is will be held on Thursday, May 27th, 2:00- 3:00 pm. Registration is required.

Ontario's Patient Ombudsman Survey. Residents, caregivers and staff members are invited to participate in an anonymous survey being conducted by the Patient Ombudsman. The online survey will take approximately 10 mins to complete and is available online.

Garden Suites Survey & Consultation: The City of Toronto is seeking public and industry opinions about Garden Suites in Toronto. To provide feedback and help shape the future of Gardens Suites in Toronto, please fill out this survey.

The TTC would like your feedback as they develop their 5-year fare policy. Have your say and get involved by completing an online survey or by calling 1-833-949-3273. The survey will be available until June 2, 2021.

Sign up for Toronto Police Services’ 43 Division Youth Job Fair! Attention youth job seekers between 15 to 18 years of age! Join the virtual Job Fair on June 7, 2021 at 6pm and connect directly with local employers who are hiring NOW! Learn more here.

SHN Foundation Tamil Radiothon! Tune in on June 9, 2021 for SHN Foundation’s first ever Tamil Radiothon and help raise $50,000 for Scarborough Hospitals. Learn more here.

Please click here for a list of food banks and soup kitchens in the Ward 24 Please click here for a list of food banks in East Scarborough Please click here for a list of food banks in Scarborough Please remember to call ahead to book to ensure they are properly stocked. For those interested in volunteering, food banks are always looking for volunteers, so please feel free to save and share this information.

Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough Scoop – Subscribe HERE. East Scarborough Storefront: Our KGO Updates – See the latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE. insidehousing: News from Toronto Community Housing – Subscribe HERE. What’s On at the Library: Home Edition – Check out the latest copy HERE. Subscribe HERE.

If you need info on COVID-19, please visit the following websites: City of Toronto Province of Ontario Government of Canada World Health Organization

I am continuously updating my social media platforms and my website:

You can also reach me by: telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at [email protected]

All my Best, Paul

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