Toronto weddings are spreading COVID-19. Experts say it’s time to stop ‘mixed messaging’ on large gatherings

Thestar.com
Nov. 20, 2020
David Rider

As Toronto awaits yet more restrictions to hold back surging COVID-19 levels, one significant driver of infections -- weddings -- is not subject to a specific cap on the number of guests who can gather.

And while infections from big weddings in York Region and other 905-belt communities make headlines, public health data provided to the Star shows that wedding ceremonies are also driving COVID-19 spread here.

Dr. Anna Banerji, a University of Toronto infectious disease expert, said allowing crowds at weddings, funerals or religious rites, while banning indoor dining and begging Torontonians to stay home, is dangerous and makes no sense.

“How can you say to all of us we can’t associate with other people, but then you can have up to 50 people at a wedding? There are so many inconsistencies now. I think one of the reasons people are getting COVID fatigue is because of the mixed messaging,” Banerji said.

“I know people may be impatient and want to get married. Have a civil ceremony, then have the celebration when there’s a vaccine out or the numbers have dropped. Now’s not the time.

“If we want to get this virus under control we need to restrict larger gatherings.”

Premier Doug Ford is expected Friday to announce significant new restrictions for virus hot spots Toronto, Peel and York.

Toronto officials won’t reveal which regional restrictions they asked the province to impose, but Mayor John Tory is using capacity limits for malls and stores as an example of one way to limit infection-risking “crowd scenes.”

Tory and public health chief Dr. Eileen de Villa have been pleading with residents to stay home except for essential outings, to socialize only with fellow household members, and to avoid sustained indoor close contact with anyone else.

De Villa ordered banquet halls and event spaces closed, along with indoor dining, in a clampdown that started Nov. 14. People are still getting married in homes, churches, Airbnbs and other spaces.

De Villa only recommended -- not ordered -- that weddings be limited to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. A provincial order caps weddings and funerals at 30 per cent of a venue’s capacity, with physical distancing but no maximum number.

Asked recently about her decision to not subject weddings to an order, de Villa said that could be revisited if evidence suggests a hard cap on attendance is merited.

Toronto Public Health is aware of 10 weddings in Toronto between the end of August and October where attendees were exposed to COVID-19. Half of the weddings triggered outbreaks, where two or more cases are linked to the event.

“In total, TPH is currently aware of 93 confirmed COVID-19 cases associated with these events,” Dr. Vinita Dubey, an associate medical officer of health for Toronto, said in an email Tuesday.

But that’s likely an underestimation of wedding-triggered infections, she added, “because individuals may not always disclose that they attended the wedding, and in some instances symptomatic and/or close contacts refused to get tested.”

TPH has also determined that “measures were not followed at the majority of these events, mostly by attendees (e.g. not wearing masks, no physically distancing).”

Also, “wedding parties and guests were not always forthcoming about wedding details during our investigations.”

Among those infected at Toronto weddings were people who went home to the regions of York, Peel, Durham and Waterloo.

Torontonians have also brought the virus back from weddings in other parts of Ontario.

At least nine Torontonians were among 89 confirmed or suspected cases tied to four York Region weddings, and associated gatherings, held between Nov. 2 and Nov. 17.

One hundred or more guests were at three of the events, including 140 celebrants at a Chateau le Jardin banquet hall in Vaughan. Local public health officials said that venue, and another that hosted 130 people, followed anti-virus precautions.

Patrick Casey, a York Region spokesperson, said in an email: “Some people choose to gather or attend an event with (COVID-19) symptoms, even if they are mild, because they don’t want to miss the event.

“We can’t stress enough, stay home if you are sick, even if your symptoms are mild.”

Some weddings are superspreader events, like one in Ohio where 32 of 83 guests were infected, including the bride, groom and three of their four grandparents.

An Aug.7 wedding in Maine spread the virus to 177 people, seven of whom died.

Toronto brides and wedding event professionals said small ceremonies with strict protocols are held safely every day, while acknowledging the risks if alcohol, familiarity, or other facets of family-and-friend gatherings lead to lapses.

Toronto Wedding Chapel owner Katherine Parris said she’s hosting 15 to 20 weddings a week, each with a maximum of 10 people, in her 750-square-foot space near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

No food or drink, mask-wearing except for brief designated moments and staff temperature checks are among precautions ensuring no infections. “We’re so careful,” Parris said, adding it’s “irresponsible” to hold big weddings now.

Versa Joshi planned her mid-September wedding during the pandemic. They had 45 people in a ceremony in her parents’ large backyard, then a later reception with 40 different people on a hotel terrace.

Opulent Event Designs ensured anti-virus measures including distancing, masks and sanitizers kept the event safe without defining it, Joshi said, adding she’s glad she opted for a small wedding now rather than wait until after the pandemic.

Opulent owner Sukhy Singh has seen weddings like Joshi’s, where guests followed the rules, and others where they engaged in risky behaviour.

Couples should have to hire city bylaw officers to attend their wedding and ensure safety, she suggested.

“Most people comply but as soon as people get mingling, the masks can come down,” Singh said. “There were moments where I feel like I should have called the city or bylaw officer to complain about my clients.”

Her staff arrived to take down tents for one backyard wedding party outside Toronto only to find about 70 people dancing.

“You can’t do that in a pandemic,” Singh said.