These maps show Toronto’s current COVID-19 hot spots are not where you think they are.
When it comes to COVID-19, public health experts have identified numerous locations in and around Toronto where people are at a high risk of contracting the virus, but that have not yet seen sustained large-scale cases. The maps, which compare the risk of contracting the virus to how strong the current outbreak is in each area, highlight the places where we stand to grow the virus and are likely to spread it the most.
Toronto Public Health has not yet seen widespread community spread of illness yet, but the health authority has conducted an unprecedented number of public health-related tests across the city and expects to see the spread of the virus increase throughout the coming weeks.
The numbers come from a detailed analysis of the current outbreak in Ontario and elsewhere, which shows the risk of becoming infected with the virus in several hot spots that have not yet seen major cases. The risk maps have also been updated with new information about new outbreaks, where the risk has increased and where the risk of becoming infected has decreased, as well as the number and impact of new tests conducted throughout the last week. The map below shows a time-lapse of the current outbreak, since there has been more testing than in other recent outbreaks to see the spread in a wider area and a more comprehensive view of the impact.
As of this week, there have been 1,500 tests conducted across the province and 1,095 tests conducted in Toronto. The number of tests conducted in Toronto has risen by more than 50 per cent from its normal weekly average, which is an astonishing level for a city that has experienced a few dozen cases each week over the past few months. Public health officials estimate that close to 2,000 people are infected in Toronto, and around 20 people have died as a result of contracting the virus. That’s an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to the last week of testing.
As you can see in the map above, the risk of becoming infected with the virus in Toronto