Destinations across Ontario are announcing closures and cancellations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 13, the provincial government has confirmed a total of 74 positive coronavirus cases, with 580 cases under investigation. With these growing numbers of coronavirus in Toronto, many tourist hotspots such as the CN Tower, the AGO and the ROM are closing for several weeks. On Friday, Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, announced that he is recommending a suspension of all events and public gatherings of over 250 people. Ontario MPP Lisa MacLeod announced that all Explore Ontario conventions and attractions will be closing temporarily. This list includes places like the Ontario Science Centre, the ROM, the AGO, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, among others. "The health and well-being of Ontarians is our government's number one priority. Based on the advice of Dr. David Williams, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, and the experts at the province's Command Table, we have been taking decisive steps to contain the virus and continue to protect the public," explained Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. The Government of Canada is also advising that all Canadians avoid non-essential international travel amid the pandemic. Several universities have also cancelled their classes and are preparing to migrate to online courses for the rest of the term. Now, multiple big events are being cancelled and tourist hotspots being shut down as the city works towards limiting public exposure to the coronavirus. Below is a list of newly announced closures and suspensions. CN Tower When: Saturday, March 14 - April 14, 2020 Address: 290 Bremner Blvd., Toronto, ON The CN Tower announced that it will be closed from March 14 until April 14, 2020. The popular attraction states it is placing "the health and safety" of its staff, guests and tenants at top priority during the pandemic. View this post on Instagram #TowerTuesday #mycntower #cntower #tourcn #toronto A post shared by CN Tower (@cntower) on Mar 10, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT Website Downsview Park When: March 14 - April 14, 2020 Address: 70 Canuck Ave., Toronto, ON Downsview Park will cancel all of its educational programmings at the end of the day this Friday and will not be reopened until April 14. View this post on Instagram Happy #NationalForestWeek. Take a moment to walk around our young and growing forests this week – Boake's Grove Forest, Urban Forest, and William Baker Woodlot. A post shared by Downsview Park (@downsviewpark) on Sep 26, 2019 at 4:48pm PDT Website Events At Scotiabank Arena When: Until further notice Address: 40 Bay St., Toronto, ON A number of events, including Raptors games, Toronto Maple Leafs games and concerts such as Pearl Jam have been postponed or cancelled until further notice. View this post on Instagram Beauty addition to the arena. #WeTheNorth A post shared by Official Scotiabank Arena (@scotiabankarena) on Oct 22, 2019 at 6:49pm PDT Website St. Patrick's Day Parade When: March 15, 2020 Address: Queens Park and Bloor Street W., Toronto, ON The parade organizers have announced that the festivities will be cancelled in light of public health concerns. A variety of St. Patrick's Day parades have been cancelled around the world, including New York and Ottawa. View this post on Instagram Get a girl that’s a freak in the streets. A post shared by Anna-Maria (@_bittergrace) on Mar 25, 2018 at 7:20pm PDT Website Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall When: Until further notice Address: 60 Simcoe St., Toronto, ON & 178 Victoria St., Toronto, ON All events at Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall will be cancelled for the next two weeks, after which the situation will be re-evaluated. View this post on Instagram One of my favourite buildings in the city! Showing time! 🙃 #realtor #realestate #realtoring #realtorlife #realtorlifestyle #toronto #torontolife #condo #condoliving #downtown #downtownliving #insta #instalike #instagood #instadaily #instarealestate #roythomsonhall #cntower #views #the6ix #buy #sell #invest #lease #talktome #future #entrepreneur #therealestateofficeinc #entrepreneurship A post shared by Stephanie King (@stephaniekingtherealtor) on Mar 28, 2017 at 7:41am PDT Website Sugar Shack Toronto When: March 14-15, 2020 Address: 11 Dockside Dr., Toronto, ON Sugar Shack 2020 has been cancelled over concerns about COVID-19. The next scheduled event is set to take place in 2021. View this post on Instagram 💓 Happy Family Day! We hope it's full of time spent with your loved ones.⠀ -⠀ March Break is around the corner, and Sugar Shack TO is a FREE event that the whole family will love! Start planning and we hope to see you at Sugar Beach for a celebration of all things maple! A post shared by Sugar Shack TO (@sugarshackto) on Feb 17, 2020 at 6:06am PST Website The Hockey Hall Of Fame When: March 14 - April 6, 2020 Address: 30 Yonge St., Toronto, ON The Hockey Hall of Fame has announced that it will be closing its doors from March 14 until April 6. The closure is due to the high amount of traffic the venue usually sees over March Break. View this post on Instagram Fun fact: the Stanley Cup is way bigger in person 🏒 A post shared by Kennedy 🥀 Schull (@kennedy_schull) on Mar 11, 2020 at 5:37pm PDT Website Toronto Comicon When: March 20-22, 2020 Address: 255 Front St. W., Toronto, ON Comicon has announced that it will be cancelling its 2020 event; fans are now able to request for ticket refunds. View this post on Instagram ❤️❤️❤️ - - - - She-Ra: @wolfhotel Glimmer: @pasteldeviil Catra: @babiecow 📷: @wendy.snaps A post shared by Valiant (@valiantcosplays) on Oct 17, 2019 at 10:44am PDT Website Collision When: June 22-25, 2020 Address: 100 Princes' Blvd., Toronto, ON The large tech conference has announced that it will no longer be holding Collision in Toronto. Instead, the conference will be moving to an "at home" conference, where attendees can view events online. View this post on Instagram "If you do something that's right but obvious, you end up attracting a lot of competitors." 💡 Mike Maples, Managing Partner, FLOODGATE at #CollisionConf #startups #investors #tuesdaythoughts #entrepreneur #company #startupstory #toronto #techtoronto A post shared by Collision (@collisionconfhq) on Oct 1, 2019 at 9:02am PDT Website Art Gallery Of Ontario When: March 14 - April 5, 2020 Address: 317 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON The AGO has announced that due to the safety of their visitors, staff and volunteers, it will be closing its doors from March 14 until April 5. View this post on Instagram The AGO’s highest priority is the health and safety of our visitors, staff, volunteers and extended community. Upon the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the AGO is closing temporarily as of 9 p.m. on Friday, March 13 through Sunday, April 5. We’ll continue to monitor the situation. It’s important to note that health officials for Toronto, Ontario & Canada continue to advise that the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low. The decision to close temporarily was a responsible one to help slow the potential spread of the virus, but not cause for alarm or panic. We'll contact those who have booked tickets, to arrange refunds or exchanges once we reopen. Due to staffing limits during this closure, the Contact Centre will be closed. Please email us at contactus@ago.ca with any questions, concerns. We’ll respond as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience. As a non-profit arts organization, the AGO is grateful for our community’s continued support and we look forward to welcoming you all back soon. A post shared by Art Gallery of Ontario (@agotoronto) on Mar 13, 2020 at 1:36pm PDT Website Royal Ontario Museum When: March 13 - April 5, 2020 Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON Starting Friday night, the ROM will close its doors until April 5. The company states that they will "continue to take guidance from our public health officials regarding the duration of this closure." View this post on Instagram In light of today’s announcement from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, we will be closing the ROM to the public, effective today Friday, March 13 at 5:30 pm; this includes all programs, internal and external events. The health and safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is of utmost importance in these challenging times. We anticipate remaining closed to the public through to April 5 but will continue to take guidance from our public health officials regarding the duration of this closure. Please continue to check our website and social channels for updates. A post shared by Royal Ontario Museum (@romtoronto) on Mar 13, 2020 at 1:41pm PDT Website Ontario Science Centre When: March 13 - April 5, 2020 Address: 770 Don Mills Rd., North York, ON As of 5 p.m. on Friday, the Ontario Science Centre will be closed. It will reopen on April 5, 2020. To support public health’s efforts to contain COVID-19, we’re temporarily closed to visitors, effective March 13 at 5p.m. through April 5. Check our website for updates: https://t.co/lzeQlaEKmO pic.twitter.com/vkqcAYREqj— Ontario Science Centre 🔬 (@OntScienceCtr) March 13, 2020 Website Casa Loma When: March 13 at 5 p.m. Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON Toronto's Casa Loma has announced a temporary closure, effective Friday, March 13. Casa Loma states that privately booked events and the Blueblood Steakhouse will not be impacted by the closure, as the capacities are smaller. View this post on Instagram Love is in the castle . . . #happyvalentinesday #valentines #myvalentine #bemine #february14 #loveday #casaloma #castle #views #viewsfromthe6 #toronto #torontoevents #torontofood #cityoftoronto #seetorontonow #explorecanada 📷/ @rudderless_trvl A post shared by Casa Loma (@casalomatoronto) on Feb 14, 2020 at 9:10am PST Website
