Jim Karygiannis : COVID-19 Updates – March 29, 2020
Over the past week, I have received many complaints regarding littering on neighbourhood streets and in parking lots. In particular, I have noticed that masks and gloves are being disposed of in parking lots immediately after use. Littering is completely unacceptable and puts our collection workers at greater risk of infection from COVID-19 and other diseases.
City of Toronto
• Whether in self-isolation or practising physical distancing, it is important to connect with friends and family over the phone or online and try to eat well and stay rested. Everyone is encouraged to check in by phone or other means that maintain physical distancing on family, friends, and colleagues who may be struggling.
• Individuals looking for additional crisis supports should reach out to Crisis Services Canada or Toronto Public Health. Crisis Services Canada is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/, by phone at 1-833-456-4566 or by text message at 45645. In an emergency, always call 911.
Government of Ontario
• Premier Doug Ford announced new penalties to combat price gouging and hold offenders accountable for raising prices significantly on the necessary goods Ontarians need to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19.
• Necessary goods include:
• Masks and gloves used as personal protective equipment in relation to infections.
• Non-prescription medications for the treatment of the symptoms of the coronavirus.
• Disinfecting agents intended for cleaning and disinfecting objects or humans.
• Personal hygiene products, including soap products and paper products.
• Individual offenders face a ticket of $750, or, if summoned to court and convicted, could face a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and one year in jail. If convicted, a company director or officer could face a fine of up to $500,000 and up to a year in jail, and a corporation could face a fine of up to $10 million.
• The Ontario government is prohibiting organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people, effective immediately.
• Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer announced updated guidance to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the job site and addresses sector topics including:
• Providing better on-site sanitation, including a focus on high-touch areas like site trailers, door handles and hoists
• Communicating roles, responsibilities, and health & safety policies, by, for example, posting site sanitization schedules and work schedules
• Enabling greater distances between workers by staggering shifts, restricting site numbers and limiting elevator usage
• Protecting public health by tracking and monitoring workers
• If health and safety concerns are not resolved internally, a worker can seek enforcement by filing a complaint with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development ‘s Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008.
• Failure to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations could result in a stop work order.
Government of Canada
• Prime Minister pledged $7.5 million in funding to Kids Help Phone to provide mental health support to children and youth impacted by school closures and reduced access to social support and community resources.
• The federal government will also boost aid for Canadian seniors, contributing $9 million through United Way Canada to help the country’s older population get groceries, medication and other critical items.
應對COVID-19每日更新─ 2020 年3 月29 日
過去的一周，我收到了許多關於有人在街道和停車場亂扔垃圾的投訴。我特別注意到停車場內有被隨意丟棄的口罩和手套。亂扔垃圾是完全不可接受的，這種行為使我們的垃圾收集人員更易受到COVID-19或其他疾病的感染。
多倫多市府
• 無論是自我隔離或保持安全社交距離，重要的是仍然通過電話或社交媒體與朋友和家人保持聯繫，並保證均衡營養和充足睡眠。希望大家在保持人際距離的前提下，通過電話或其他方式支持和鼓勵可能正在掙扎的家人、朋友和同事。
• 尋求更多危機支持的人士，應與加拿大危機介入服務中心或多倫多公共衛生局聯繫。加拿大危機介入服務中心每周7天，每天24小時為公眾服務，網址：
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/，電話：1-833-456-4566，或短信：45645。如遇緊急情況，應撥打911。
安大略省府
• 省長Doug Ford宣佈了新的懲罰措施，嚴厲打擊哄抬物價的行為，追究大幅抬高防疫必需品價格者的法律責任。
• 防疫必需品包括:
O 用於個人防護的口罩和手套
O 治療冠狀病毒症狀的非處方藥物
O 清潔劑和消毒劑
O 個人衛生用品，包括肥皂和紙製品
• 單筆個人罰款750美元。如果被傳召法庭並定罪，個人要面臨最高罰款10萬和監禁一年。如果罪名成立，抬價公司董事或管理人員可能面臨最高罰款50萬和監禁一年。違規企業可能面臨最高罰款1000萬。
• 省府禁止有組織的公共活動及五人以上的社交聚會，即時生效。
• 安省首席預防官宣佈了最新指引，幫助阻止COVID-19在不同行業工作場所的傳播，包括:
O 提供更好的衛生設施，包括重點關注高接觸區域，例如：辦公室拖車、門把手和起重機
O 溝通角色、職責和健康與安全政策，例如：張貼衛生打掃安排表和工作計劃
O 通過錯開班次、限制站點人數與電梯使用，增大員工之間距離
O 通過跟蹤和監測員工的身體狀況，保護公眾健康
• 如果健康和安全問題未能在內部得到解決，員工可向勞動、培訓和技能發展部的健康與安全聯絡中心（1-877-202-0008）投訴，尋求執行政府有關規定。
• 違反《職業健康與安全法》，有關部門可能會下達停工令。
加拿大聯邦政府
• 總理承諾為兒童求助電話提供750萬美元的撥款，為受學校關閉和社會支持與社區資源減少影響的兒童和青少年提供心理健康支持。
• 聯邦政府還將增加對加拿大耆老的援助，撥出900萬元，通過加拿大聯合之路（United Way Canada）資助本國耆老購買食物、藥品和其他生活必需品。
Jim Karygiannis,
Councillor, Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt
3850 Finch Ave E G7
Scarborough Ontario M1T 3T6
(416) 392 1374 Phone
(647) 723 0287 Fax
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