How Vancouver and Toronto are preparing for health risks of World Cup mass gatherings
Vancouver and Toronto are preparing for health risks associated with the upcoming World Cup by conducting extensive simulations and planning. Both cities expect over 300,000 visitors and have established integrated safety and security units to address potential emergencies. Health officials are focusing on various scenarios, including infectious disease outbreaks and mass-casualty events, to ensure a coordinated response during the tournament.
- ▪A full-scale exercise was conducted in Vancouver to simulate a mass-casualty event at the World Cup fan zone.
- ▪Health and emergency officials have been planning for various scenarios since Vancouver and Toronto were named host cities in 2022.
- ▪The planning includes addressing health hazards such as heat events, food-borne illnesses, and substance-use-related issues.
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Open this photo in gallery:Michelle Murti, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, says that during the World Cup, the city will expand the viruses it tracks to include mpox, norovirus and measles.Fred Lum/The Globe and MailShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountThe full-scale exercise mirrored the real-world nightmare still fresh in the minds of first responders: a vehicle plowing into a crowd at a busy festival.Only this time, the victims were trained role players and the festival was the future site of Vancouver’s World Cup fan zone.
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