'Doesn’t come as a surprise': Georgina enters Grey Zone to curb COVID-19 spread

Town facilities closed, retail open for curbside, restaurants offer takeout only under lockdown

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 15

As York Region enters the Grey -- lockdown category of the province’s COVID-19 framework, all town-owned facilities in Georgina will once again be closed to the public for a minimum of 28 days.

That means town buildings such as the Civic Centre and recreation facilities will be closed to the public and all in-person recreation programs are cancelled.

"This doesn’t come as a surprise," Mayor Margaret Quirk said of the most stringent COVID-19 response category.

Last week, York region council asked the province for one more week in the red zone with additional restrictions and enforcement in place.

"The ultimate decision was with the province," Quirk added.

The province moved York Region into the Grey category as a way to keep schools open in the region, manage capacity levels withing the health care system and in an effort to protect the most vulnerable populations.

The provincial Grey order comes with a number of regulations including no indoor organized public events or social gatherings except with members of the same household; religious services and ceremonies limited to 10 people, indoor and outdoor dining is prohibited at restaurants, and retail shops are permitted to open for online and curbside pickups only.

"We now need to focus on supporting our local business community, which means curbside pickup for retail, ordering takeout from our restaurants, and limiting our travel and social interactions," Quirk said. "Let’s move beyond this lockdown and get the numbers moving in the right direction."

Outdoor activities are still permitted under the Grey zone. The town is working to open the ROC and the Pefferlaw Ice Pad under new, strict health-and-safety measures and capacity limits.

Georgina parks, trails and playgrounds remain open.

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All three branches of the Georgina Public Library will remain open only for limited, preregistered computer use, drop-offs and pickup of holds on a drop-in basis. Library hours remain the same. Library branches will not be accepting blue boxes or green bins, or selling garbage tags.

For more information, visit georgina.ca/COVID-19.