Toronto mayor John Tory has announced a plan called CurbTO to improve physical distancing around essential businesses.

City staff have identified 10 so called “hot spots” along busy retail streets where distancing is difficult due to lineups and narrow sidewalks.

One is at the grocery store at the site of the old Maple Leaf Gardens.

“At Carlton and Church, for example, we will take pieces of street where necessary to allow people to walk safely,” Mayor Tory explained on Tuesday morning, “both those who are lined up for the store and those who are trying to get by and be safe and not get too close to other people.”

Curb lane pedestrian zones will allow more people to wait in line while still practicing physical distancing and will also allow space for passersby to get around the lines while maintaining their distance.

Mayor Tory says there could eventually be 100 of these improved physical distancing locations.

The first 10 CurbTO spots are at the following locations:

1. Carlton Street and Church Street – Pedestrian zone

2. Danforth Avenue and Broadview Avenue – Pedestrian & Parking zones

3. Dupont Street and Lansdowne Avenue – Pedestrian zone

4. Bay Street and Yorkville Avenue – Parking Zone

5. Front Street East and Berkeley Street – Pedestrian & Parking zones

6. Gerrard Street East and Parliament Street – Pedestrian zone

7. Gerrard Street East and Broadview Avenue – Pedestrian & Parking zones

8. King Street West and Spadina Avenue – Parking zone

9. Bloor Street West and Bathurst Street – Pedestrian & Parking zones

10. Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue – Pedestrian zone