York Region pleads for 1 more week before COVID-19 lockdown

Mayors, regional councillors go to bat for local business as provincial decision looms

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 11, 2020
Kim Zarzour

With lockdown looking imminent in York Region, mayors and regional councillors are asking the province for one more week in the Red Zone and a change to provincial restrictions on restaurants and gyms.

York Region council heard from the medical officer of health Thursday that the region has "hit the sweet spot" in tackling virus spread with increased enforcement, heightened controls, good case management, contract tracing and outbreak control.

But, Dr. Karim Kurji said, “our seven-day metrics don’t look good” and it appears the province is poised to lock things down.

Kurji has been saying for several weeks that the region could avoid lockdown with more stringent restrictions and a focus on strict, targeted enforcement of the COVID-19 safety precautions.

“We know that the negative effects of going into lockdown will be mental health distress, social isolation as well as economic ruination of many small businesses, so we have to take the whole community’s health under consideration,” Kurji said.

That message appeared to have been heard earlier this month when the province moved Toronto and Peel into the Grey Zone, but kept York, whose numbers have been among the highest in Ontario, in the Red.

The region has faced much criticism for its stand against lockdown, from those worried about the spread, as well as praise from those who appreciated the attempt to keep the economy from floundering.

But Kurji said the past week has raised some concerns.

Incidence rates are rising, local hospitals are saying they are stressed -- not just with York Region patients but also those coming from outside the region -- and staff are succumbing to the virus themselves, he said.

New information from SCARSIN, a private data company that originally predicted lockdown would have negligible impact on the region, now shows increased enforcement did not reduce mobility as much as anticipated.

“This particular virus has shown time and again it’s so difficult to predict it accurately,” Kurji said.

“I have the utmost respect for the provincial leadership. They have guided us through this pandemic really well, and, therefore, I really have to leave it to the province to decide what would be the best way forward.”

But members of regional council remained concerned for local businesses.

“They are not even just hanging on by a thread anymore; they’re on life support,” said Whitchurch Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt.

Lovatt put forward a motion asking the province to review its Red Zone restrictions going forward, replacing the cap of 10 diners in restaurants to a 50 per cent capacity instead, requiring patrons be seated at tables three metres apart or with barriers instead of two, and in-person dining closed at 10:30 p.m., instead of 10 p.m., to allow for two seatings.

The motion also asked for 25 per cent capacity limits on gyms rather than the current cap of 10 indoors.

Several councillors questioned the timing of this request, suggesting it would appear “tone deaf" to ask for looser restrictions at a time when the region is facing lockdown.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said he agreed with the idea in principle, but recommended holding off.

If the province is on the fence about putting York into lockdown, he said, it could be risky making a request that makes the region look “out of touch.”

Kurji agreed with Taylor, noting the province is poised to put York into the Grey Zone, but the motion was passed by a majority of council.

An additional motion, put forward by Taylor and approved unanimously, reinforced the region’s opposition to lockdown, but asked the province that if lockdown must be imposed, it not proceed until after Dec. 24.

“Businesses have stocked up inventory. This week is where they make or break their year,” Taylor said. “I think our business community, and not just restaurants, would be incredibly grateful if they got seven more days of being open before Christmas.”