Complaints about crowding have forced York Region to clamp down on malls, and big box and grocery stores, according to its medical officer of health.
“Unfortunately, we have had many complaints with respect to malls, and with the big box stores and grocery stores, which then has forced our hand in ensuring we have taken more stringent measures,” York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji said in his weekly video update today.
Kurji issued a class order last night that enforces measures as of today, Nov. 23, which go beyond the restrictions in the red control zone in the COVID-19 reopening framework and the province’s Reopening Ontario Safely Act aimed at stemming the escalation of COVID-19 in the second wave of the pandemic.
Malls and retails outlets must limit capacity and ensure physical distancing of at least two metres or more is practised in all common areas, including hallways, washrooms, and entrances, as well as in lineups, he said.
The restrictions come on the heels of media reports of packed malls and retail outlets last weekend as Toronto and Peel Region prepared to move into lockdown today.
Some York Region politicians had expressed concerns that residents in those two COVID-19 hotspots will shop in neighbouring York Region, which avoided being placed in lockdown by Premier Doug Ford last Friday.
On Friday, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti issued a statement urging Toronto and Peel residents not to travel to the region.
“The lockdown is there for a reason. The red zone is here for a reason. We have to curtail the number of cases. That should be everyone’s priority. I don’t care what city, what neighbourhood, what town you are from,” Scarpitti said.
The order, which was issued under section 22 of Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act, has also “closed a loophole”, Kurji said, in restricting capacity at special event venues, including banquet halls, hotel conference rooms and convention centres, to 50 people for weddings and other ceremonies.
Individuals who fail to comply face fines of $5,000 a day.
Upon conviction, corporations face a fine of $25,000 a day for continued infractions, Kurji said.
“We hope that the businesses will do their part for the sake of our communities.”
He acknowledged the majority of businesses are following the measures required to help stem COVID-19 exposure.
“I think it is important for us to realize most of our businesses have been very compliant with the rules, and we certainly thank them for that."
His message to residents is that you should stay at home as much as possible, limit your contacts to household members, shop online and avoid crowded places where you are less than two metres apart for periods of 10 minutes or longer.
“These situations arise when you are in the middle of crowds, and even though you may be wearing face masks, it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get exposed,” he said.
“In a situation like the malls when you have thousands of individuals, there are bound to be several people that are infectious,” he added.
