Mayor calls on residents to support local businesses as Newmarket placed under "red-control"

A difficult time lies ahead, especially if Ontario doesn't get new cases under control, said Mayor John Taylor

Newmarkettoday.ca
November 16, 2020

As the Ontario government slams on the brakes by putting York Region and others into the "red-control" level, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor is calling on residents to do what they can to support local businesses during the difficult time ahead.

Starting on 12:01 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, Newmarket and the rest of York Region, as well as Toronto, Hamilton and Halton, are being placed under the red level in Ontario's COVID-19 response framework, which will clamp down on businesses and other public spaces to try to control the spread of the virus.

The move comes after mental health experts presented the provincial government with new projections on Thursday that Premier Doug Ford called "alarming."

"If we don't take action, if we don't change course in a big way, Ontario is on track for 6,500 new cases per day (by mid-December)," explained the premier during a news conference Friday.

"Based on current projections, intensive (care) could be overwhelmed in six weeks. The impact on our hospitals could be absolutely devastating. As premier, I can't accept that, and I won't accept that. We must do what it takes to slow the progress of this virus."

Mayor Taylor said that seeing more restrictions placed on the Newmarket community is disappointing and it will be unpopular with many residents. But he believes the province is making the right call.

"One of Wayne Gretzky's most famous quotes is 'don't go to where the puck is, go to where it's going to be,' and I think for people who understand the data and how the modelling (know where the puck is going,)" Taylor said.

"If we don't do anything different, we are going to have a very significant problem 30 to 40 days from now. If we see 6,500 new cases per day provincewide, our hospitals will be overwhelmed. That is not fear-mongering."

According to Southlake Regional Health Centre's website as of Nov. 13, there is one COVID patient in ICU.

Newmarket has been under the "orange-restrict" level, which has allowed for indoor dining and the reopening of gyms and bars after York Region emerged from modified stage 2 restrictions (replaced with the new colour-coded framework).

Moving to red level means a wide array of new restrictions comes into effect, but it is not quite a lockdown. But the premier said a lockdown is a real possibility and that he would "lockdown quicker than you can blink your eyes" should it become necessary.

Some of the restrictions under the red level include:

• Social gatherings of all kinds limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. No special exemptions for religious services or public events.
• Maximum of 10 patrons seated inside bars and restaurants.
• Outdoor dining, take-out, drive-thru, delivery all permitted.
• Live music or dancing performances prohibited.
• Limit of 10 people indoors at gyms, 25 for outdoor classes.
• Maximum of 10 patrons at mall food courts.
• No team or contact sports.

Taylor said all of this will be a blow to Newmarket businesses, and he is calling on residents to shop local as much as they can, especially when holiday shopping. The Town of Newmarket is also rolling out a local shop campaign over the next few weeks.

"I know that sounds like a nice phrase in the face of a tsunami," he admitted.

"But to everyone who is disappointed, upset, or just disagrees with where we are going, and are worried about the economic impact: we can all channel that sentiment to one place by supporting local businesses.

"Order in, buy gift cards for Christmas, don't shop on Amazon if you can avoid it. This is a call to action that is more important now than ever. "