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Thursday, April 30, 2020

Some TTC buses are still way more overcrowded than they should be right now

The TTC has been struggling both practically and financially since the pandemic began in Toronto, and it seems they still haven't figured out how to properly prevent crowding on buses. 

The transit agency has implemented various measures to enable social distancing on its vehicles and address crowding issues, such as only allowing rear door boarding, not accepting methods of payment other than Presto, blocking off every second seat and more. 

But despite these actions, photos and videos of dangerously crowded vehicles continue to circulate on social media. 

One Toronto resident, for example, posted a video from the inside of a TTC bus Wednesday afternoon, and the footage shows a vehicle packed with people without any physical distancing at all. 

Last week, the TTC announced it would be laying off about 1,200 employees to cut costs amid an 85 per cent drop in ridership and a loss of $90 million in monthly revenue. But many have said the move will undoubtedly result in more crowding and more danger for the essential workers who have no choice but to use public transit. 

"Make no mistake — layoffs mean reduced service and these cuts will have consequences for essential, low-income workers who depend on the TTC to get to work at hospitals, nursing homes, grocery stores and pharmacies," said President of the TTC workers' union Carlos Santos in a letter last week. 

"Service cuts will lead to overcrowding, which increases risk for spreading the coronavirus to those who are most vulnerable in our city."

The transit agency has acknowledged that several bus routes tend to be extremely busy during the morning rush hour, and they've asked passengers to avoid nine specific routes before 7:30 a.m if possible.

They also say they're monitoring a long list of routes that they've deemed problematic, and that extra buses have been redeployed on those select routes. 

"In order to reduce customer volume and allow for better physical distancing, we continue to monitor higher volume routes particularly in the busiest times of the morning and afternoons," the transit agency said in a statement about bus crowding.

"We encourage customers to delay any trips until after 8 a.m. whenever possible."

The TTC also says that 14 supervisors have been assigned to key positions to direct additional buses to where they are needed most.

And yet, the crowding persists. 


by Mira Miller via blogTO
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Ontario confirms 86 new deaths from COVID-19 in highest daily death toll yet

Ontario health officials have confirmed 86 new deaths in COVID-19 patients as of Thursday morning, marking the highest single-day increase in deaths thus far and bringing the province's total death toll to at least 1,082.

The new record is a grim one for the province, especially after the brief optimism felt by many yesterday after posting the lowest one-day increase in new cases in more than three weeks.

Today's case increase is slightly higher than Wednesday, with 459 new cases confirmed. This is a 2.9 per cent increase from the previous report. 

There have now been 16,187 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario reported to date, though resolved cases (10,205) have significantly outnumbered active cases (4,900) for a while now. 

Testing in the province is on a very gradual incline, with 12,928 conducted yesterday. A total of 277,522 tests have now been administered in Ontario, though the backlog of tests under investigation also continues to grow. Yesterday, there were 9,530 cases under investigation for COVID-19 in Ontario, while today there are 11,859.

Many have criticized the province for falling well below its testing targets, as Premier Doug Ford had initially said we'd be seeing 18,900 tests per day by April 17. The government eventually revised that benchmark to 12,500 tests per day by April 22.

Meanwhile, according to the province's dedicated COVID-19 web portal, 999 people are currently hospitalized with the virus. Of that number, 233 are in ICU and 181 are on ventilators. 

Ontario's daily Epidemiologic Summary indicates that of the province's 1,082 deaths, 530 have been reported among residents/patients in long-term care homes. There are now 190 outbreaks reported in long-term care homes, which is an increase of nine outbreaks from the previous report.

While Ontario has certainly seen some reasons for cautious optimism this week, today's substantial death toll and case increase is a reminder that we have a long way to go before the province reaches 200 new cases per day or less — the figure Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams says he'd like to see for at least two weeks before the province reopens. 


by Mira Miller via blogTO
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50 restaurants that do their own delivery in Toronto so you don't need to use apps

Restaurants that do their own delivery in Toronto let you support local businesses directly, rather than letting a pretty big portion of your dollar go toward hefty commission fees handed down by delivery apps like Uber Eats.

You might have to pre-order in advance online or over the phone, and pay a little extra for the delivery fee (not all the time), but supporting your favourite establishment directly is worth it. 

Here are restaurants in Toronto doing their own delivery. 

Blondies

Just text your order to the number in this pizzeria’s IG bio and they’ll arrange a way to get your pizza to you using their own delivery staff.

Tam

This Keele Street Vietnamese spot is doing local deliveries when you place an order by phone.

Somun Superstar

Bakery owner Alen will deliver your fresh Bosnian sandwiches on his bike for free, if you live between Woodbine and Warden Avenue, from the train tracks down to the lake. Just call. 

Wilson’s Haus of Lechon

This popular Filipino BBQ spot will take your minimum $50 orders through text, and even delivers to areas outside of usual zones like Brampton or Durham, depending on the day. 

Season Six

Order a hearty meal online from this Ossington restaurant and get it delivered straight to you. 

Leela

Get Indian food delivered to you for either $3 or $7 extra, depending on where you live in the boundaries between Kipling and Spadina, south of Lawrence to the Gardiner. Order online.

Tinuno

Put in your order over the phone to get in on scheduled deliveries of Filipino feasts to specific parts of the city, which you can keep up with on their IG. 

Little Sito

Get homestyle Lebanese food delivered to you between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. by ordering online.

Hong Shing

This Chinese restaurant by St. Patrick station is now offering 20% off all online orders. Head to their site for a very clear breakdown of delivery areas and times. 

Mamakas

Ossington’s most popular Greek spot is taking online delivery orders, though you’ll have to order at least a day in advance. 

Lambretta Pizzeria

You can order delivery from this Roncy pizzeria online between Wednesdays to Sundays, 4 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. 

The Fix and Co

Plant-based eats are available for in-house delivery, just call ahead and order. 

Fox on John

Pub food can be brought straight to you when you place your order online, with a minimum spend of $18. 

Han Moto

The snack bar just off Dundas West offers pre-orders via email, which they’ll be delivering personally if you e-transfer, with a minimum order of $45. 

Double Ds

Get your deep dish pizza fix by heading to their website and getting some delivered from their Lakeshore location. 

Adamson BBQ

Texan style ribs will be brought to your door between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Friday to Sunday, depending on what you choose. Just make sure you only order from their delivery section, and don’t worry if your checkout says PICKUP instead. 

La Grotta Pizzeria

This Pape Village pizza spot delivers orders made online anywhere south of Eglinton to Lakeshore, between Mount Pleasant and Victoria Park. 

Dino’s Pizza

Call to all three locations of Dino’s and get those pies and Turkish pides delivered to your door within 7 kilometres for a $5.50 fee, and an extra $3 anywhere beyond that. 

Kingston Social House

Prepared meals from this Scarborough’s spot can be pre-ordered from 3 p.m. to midnight through e-mail. 

Tabule

All four locations of Tabule are offering delivery orders through their site, just pick the one that’s closest to you. 

Maracas

Kensington’s bake and shark destination is doing weekly meal plan deliveries, which includes two meals a day for up to six days. Pay and order through their Google Doc form. 

Queen of Persia

Call this St. Clair restaurant for deliveries of halal kebab platters and delicious jewelled rice. 

Pray Tell

This snack bar is now offering meal delivery through its new site Sixteen Ounce, with options to subscribe or just do a one-time deal. 

Gushi

You can e-mail your order to Gushi’s newly launched Gushi Tech for a scheduled delivery of nanban and ramenu noodles. 

Relish

The Danforth mainstay is now doing its own deliveries, spanning a large part of Toronto’s east side from Rosedale down the Beaches, just order online. 

Bellissimo

Call into this Esplanade Italian restaurant for delivery orders until 11 p.m. daily. 

Banjara

This popular Indian restaurant is taking online orders and payments for $30 minimum orders, offering free deliveries if you’re in the right zone. 

San Remo

Etobicoke’s favourite bakery is offering $50 minimum delivery pre-orders to certain areas in Toronto and Mississauga. No same-day orders, and beware that weekly slots fill up fast. 

Lazy Daisys

Call the Gerrard East cafe for contactless deliveries of buttermilk pancakes and breakfast sandwiches.

Conspiracy Pizza

The East York pizzeria is taking delivery pre-orders if you live between Lawrence and Bloor, between Yonge and Warden. 

Fat Lamb Kouzina

Delivery is free, and will be dropped off between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. every night of the week. Just place your order over the phone at least one day in advance. 

Greek Grill

This Danforth staple will take your orders over the phone, as long as you live within their delivery range.

Sofram

You can order Mediterranean dishes for delivery online from Sofram’s Thornhill or Richmond Hill locations. 

The Irv

You can call this Cabbagetown staple or text your order to their designated number to get pub eats delivered to your door.

Tich

Call to get your Indian food fix. This Etobicoke restaurant is offering 15% off on apps, too. 

Rikkochez

Greektown’s Mediterranean restaurant will deliver for free if you live between Broadview and Greenwood, from O’Connor down to Queen Street. Just call or e-mail.

Mashu Mashu

It’s minimum $30 for delivery through this Spadina Road restaurant’s handy website. 

Aviv on St. Clair

You can order Monday through Saturday from this St. Clair restaurant, just call.

Quanto Basta

Residents near the Rosedale area can place an order over the phone for free deliveries, scheduled or regular. 

Gordo Ex Cafe

This longtime Venezuelan spot near Bathurst and Dupont is taking delivery orders over the phone. 

Eden Restaurant

Use this Humber Bay restaurant’s designated web page to get your Italian food delivered to you. 

Wynona

Leslieville’s chic crudo spot does weekly baskets appetizers and pre-made pasta sauce that you can order before Monday to have delivered on Wednesday; minimum $100.

Madame Levant

Weekly dinner feasts are available for delivery through this Leslieville restaurant’s easy-to-use online shopping cart. 

Buca Toronto

Salumi, pizza, and pastas can all be ordered online from Buca’s St. Clair  location to be delivered to your door. 

Farm'r

This restaurant is doing pre-order deliveries of their homey eats to anyone within an 8-kilometre radius of their St. Lawrence Market store, just order online. 

The Grapefruit Moon

Order online and get free delivery if you live within the restaurant’s boundaries: Bloor to Davenport Road, and stretching from Spadina to Dovercourt.

Poet Cafe

The menu changes daily but you’ll have to place your online order before 6 p.m. the day prior. This Persian cafe delivers within a 1-kilometre radius for free, and extra within 8 kilometres. 

Cici’s Pizza

As always, delivery is free for residents of the Parkdale area for orders above $15. For anyone outside those boundaries its $2 to $4 more; just call. 

Buddha Pie

The junction’s gluten-free pizzeria offers free delivery when you order over the phone. 

Green Papaya

Yonge and Eg’s Brazilian-meets-Asian restaurant will deliver your meal if ordered online. They have three delivery zones, ranging from no charges up to $8 fees.


by Tanya Mok via blogTO
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Health experts warn people in Toronto not to flock outside on a whim during warm weather

Toronto is set to see some of the nicest weather so far this year during the upcoming weekend, and it's certainly about time. But despite the appeal of soaking up all that vitamin D, Ontario's top doctor is reminding people to plan ahead and refrain from spontaneously going outside "on a whim."

Both Saturday and Sunday are forecasted to bring temperatures nearing 20 C to Toronto, which will mark the first taste of real summer-like weather the city has seen in many months. 

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, says it's fine to go outside and enjoy it, but it's essential to plan ahead. 

"On a weekend where there is good weather, I know it is very hard for people to stay inside," he said during a press conference Wednesday.

"My recommendation is that if you're planning to do some activities, then you need to plan to do them and plan them in such a way so that you don't compromise yourself by losing that physical distancing."

Dr. Williams said the way to plan for a safe outdoor activity is by ensuring you don't go to places where everyone else will go, during hours when everyone will be doing the same.

"The planning part is important rather than on a whim. Because if you're on a whim, you're probably the same as 5,000 other people and you're out doing the same thing in the same place. That's not the plan," he said.

"If you have a walking path that is fully packed, there is no way you are going to maintain physical distancing."

He emphasized that it's important to always maintain a two-metre distance from others while outside, and he also encouraged people to wear face coverings to prevent from spreading the virus when around other people.

"I'm not discouraging people from going outdoors," he said, "...but do that in areas where you can seek to maintain your physical distance in that regard and plan it."

During the same press conference, Dr. Williams and Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health, reiterated that city-dwellers should refrain from heading up to their cottages anytime soon unless they absolutely have to.

"If you don't need to go up then we would prefer you don't," Dr. Williams said.

Dr. Yaffe said residents of rural and cottage areas are still concerned with the idea of people flooding into their towns and bringing the virus with them. Currently, Greater Toronto Area public health units account for 59.2 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in the province.

"I think first of all there is some concern that people coming from the Greater Toronto Area, where the preponderance of infections exists, may have an asymptotic infection and bring it to that community where they haven't had very much infection," Dr. Yaffe said.

"I think another concern is that the healthcare system may not be equipped to deal with the number of people who come. They are concerned that there would be demands put on the local healthcare that may not be able to be met."


by Mira Miller via blogTO
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