Newmarket dance studio, Aurora Metro among 71 charged by COVID-19 enforcement officers

855 businesses across York Region were inspected last week in the continuing crackdown on businesses not complying with public safety measures

Newmarkettoday.ca
Dec. 16

A dance studio in Newmarket, and a Metro grocery store, restaurants, nail salon and fitness centre in Aurora were among 71 businesses charged by the York Region COVID-19 enforcement task force last week in the continued effort to ensure compliance with public health measures.

iDance Studios on Leslie Street in Newmarket was charged by York Region Public Health investigators for lack of distancing, according to a report issued Dec. 15 for inspections of 885 businesses across the region from Monday, Dec. 7 to Sunday, Dec. 13, prior to York Region moving to the grey lockdown zone.

Metro on Henderson Drive was charged by Aurora bylaw enforcement officer for improper masking, while Chuck's Roadhouse on Pedersen Drive was charged for overcapacity and employees not wearing masks.

Also in Aurora, public health inspectors charged Yamator Sushi on Bayview Avenue for improper mask use, F45 Training Aurora South on Yonge Street for loud music, and Jing Nails Spa on Bayview for lack of distancing.

A slew of restaurants, salons and food stores in Vaughan and Markham compiled the majority of charges.

A complete list of charges and closures is available on york.ca/COVID19

The summary of the 71 charges issued under the provincial Reopening Ontario Act and Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act:

16 charges issued by York Region Public Health
4 charges issued by York Regional Police
3 charges issued by York Region Transit
2 charges issued by the Town of Aurora
20 charges issued by the City of Markham
26 charges issued by the City of Vaughan

COVID-19 task force officers will continue to visit essential businesses and other locations to ensure public health measures under the grey lockdown zone and York Region’s section 22 class order are being met, York Region spokesperson Patrick Casey said.

Businesses failing to keep their customers and employees safe by not adhering to the mandated COVID-19 safety measures will be subject to fines. Repeat offenders could face temporary closure, he added.

Task force members are composed of bylaw officers from the region's nine municipalities, York Region Public Health inspectors, York Regional Police, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and Provincial Offence Act court prosecutions.

Since March 2020, public health inspectors, municipal bylaw officers and other enforcement agencies have completed 25,897 inspections, resulting in 646 charges and 15,219 compliance education activities.