Mayor John Tory has declared a state of emergency for Toronto, giving himself the full powers of city council in a dramatic move aimed at slowing the deadly spread of COVID-19.

Monday’s announcement came after Toronto recorded its first COVID-19 death — a man in his 70s who had visited the U.K. — and the number of infected Torontonians continued a steady, worrying climb — to 239 from 220 on Sunday, with 14 of them ill enough to be hospitalized.

The mayor, speaking by videolink from travel-triggered isolation, said he was also convinced to beef up his powers by weekend scenes on TV of Torontonians gathering despite pleas from health officials for social distancing, and the knowledge that scores of people are returning from March break trips abroad.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s public health chief, and Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, leading the city’s emergency response to the deadly virus, recommended the emergency declaration Monday morning. Tory signed the declaration hours later after speaking to Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“I can make any decision,” that council normally could, the mayor said, adding “time is of the essence” for urgent measures to prevent the kind of mass infection killing thousands of people in Italy.

Tory said he won’t hesitate to use his new powers in any way recommended by health and emergency officials, adding he has no specific new rules planned. “There is no list,” of actions, he said, but noted he now has the ability to enforce a mandatory distance between people on playgrounds or in parks.

Tory promised to use the powers, which last 30 days unless council authorizes an extension, prudently.

“I think people know how I make decisions, which is carefully,” said the mayor who mixed stern warnings — “Stay home, stay away from work” — with assurances the city will survive the unprecedented threat. “Have a sense of hope about this,” he urged people.

Tory said Torontonians in essential services — including his daughter Susan, a doctor at Humber River Hospital — who must venture out to work “are heroes for us right now,” so people need to stick to social distancing to help keep them safe.

The mayor’s announcement was co-ordinated with an earlier announcement by Ford ordering the shutdown of all non-essential businesses in the province.

Ford said in a televised address that only essential manufacturing and supply chain providers, as well as shops such as supermarkets, pharmacies, LCBO outlets and takeout restaurants would be allowed to remain open when details are finalized Tuesday.

De Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, said public health officials have tracked the international spread of the virus since January and felt it was important “at this time” to protect Torontonians with the municipal emergency declaration.

She said there was no one issue that pushed them to make this recommendation, rather the “sum totality of our observations.”

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“If there was a particular issue or driving factor it would be that we need to see better and more social distancing,” she said. “There continues to be a number of people congregating in a way that frankly is not helpful in terms of what we’re seeking to achieve in terms of trying to protect the health of our city.”

Pegg said the declaration enhances the city’s ability to be “nimble” to protect people.

“It is about the city continuing to be proactive. It is about us staying ahead and remaining in a position where we can effectively and efficiently manage this emergency as it evolves in the most expeditious means possible,” he said. “The declaration today sets that legal construct up in order to make that possible.”

One of Tory’s council colleagues, Stephen Holyday, said the mayor has his full support in usurping council’s powers.

“I believe there are responsible people managing this emergency and they should have every resource that they need and every option at the ready,” said Holyday (Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre.)

With files from Francine Kopun, Jennifer Pagliaro and Robert Benzie

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