Toronto sets January date for city workers to return to the office, amid rising COVID-19 cases, Omicron uncertainty
January 25, 2020
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There will be a new date for city workers returning to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto Mayor John Tory announced Monday.
The changes will see the city extend its current public holidays for one week — from July 10th to July 31st — and extend the work week from five to six days.
The changes, which will also take effect immediately on July 1st, will leave just one day for public gatherings.
Tory was joined by staff in the city’s government departments, unions, and community agencies during his announcement.
“I know that the city has faced unprecedented challenges in recent weeks, and we need to move forward together,” Tory said.
“The safety of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents cannot be achieved if we are still not prepared to protect ourselves.”
Tory outlined the measures that will be implemented in the coming weeks, which include moving workers to online jobs or a remote location, as well as ensuring that people have access to food and the ability to leave their homes safely.
“We need to open the city back up to the people who live here,” he said. “This is a moment of great importance.”
The city’s goal is to have 70 per cent of its work force working from home by the end of 2021.
There are currently 2,868 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, with 492 deaths.
An interim report on the pandemic by Toronto Public Health says the numbers reflect the “dramatic change in the demographics and health status of the city over recent weeks.”
It also says there are currently 10,900 cases of COVID-19 in Ontario. It says that Ontario saw the highest number of cases outside of China so far.
Tory has also introduced
