These maps show Toronto’s current COVID-19 hot spots are not where you think they are. With several large city regions still in the incubator, new cases are popping up in some unexpected areas, such as Southwestern Toronto.
The most recent map, published by the City of Toronto, shows that there are now nearly 1,500 cases in the greater Toronto area. That’s an 85 per cent increase in the past year, a stunning amount, considering Toronto is already dealing with the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Many of the new hot spots are in smaller communities, such as Leslieville, Richmond Hill, and Thorncliffe Park, which have seen their cases rise by 30 per cent or more in the past month.
And it’s not just Toronto. In the same period, the number of new cases has jumped by more than 40 per cent in the GTA, and by more than 70 per cent in Peel Region.
It’s not so easy to understand, given that these hot spots are not evenly spread across the city.
What are the hot spots?
The maps, which are presented both in blue and red, show that by far the most growth in recent weeks has come from the following four areas:
Central Toronto: This area has now seen an 18-fold increase in COVID-19 cases over the past month, compared to last week. That’s the fastest increase in the city, and one of the highest increases in any area in the Greater Toronto Area.
This area has now seen an 18-fold increase in COVID-19 cases over the past month, compared to last week. That’s the fastest increase in the city, and one of the highest increases in any area in the Greater Toronto Area. Central Etobicoke: This area has seen an 11-fold increase in COVID-19 cases over the past month, compared to last week. That’s the second-highest increase in the city, and is second only to Central Toronto in the GTA.
This area has seen an 11-fold increase in COVID-19 cases over the past month, compared to last week. That’s the second-highest increase in the city, and is second only to Central Toronto in the GTA. Thorncliffe Park
