'Not what we were expecting': Cases rising, as many businesses break COVID-19 rules, says top doc

Any hope that York Region could move into the orange-restrict zone by March 15 appears to be over as too many businesses, particularly restaurants, are not following red zone restrictions, says Dr. Karim Kurji

Newmarkettoday.ca
March 12, 2021

Any hope that York Region could move into the orange-restrict zone by March 15 appears to be over after too many businesses, particularly restaurants, have been found not complying with restrictions aimed at preventing further spread of COVID-19, according to the medical officer of health.

A week after predicting that the province might approve a further loosening of restrictions in its reopening framework by next Monday, Dr. Karim Kurji told regional council today that York Region isn't where it needs to be for that to happen.

"Our incidence rate is close to 58 per 100,000, so we are not near the orange zone requirements of being under 40 per 100,000," he said.

The setback is due, in part, to the lack of compliance with the public health restrictions, especially at restaurants that are permitted to resume indoor dining with capacity and physical distancing restrictions under the red-control zone, he said.

"Unfortunately, we are really finding during our inspections that our restaurants have really forgotten the proper measures," he said.

"Maybe they have been in lockdown quite long, and we are finding a lot of infractions ranging from not having physical distancing, not having safety plans, ignoring the limit of 10 people for dining indoors, face masks and so on," said Kurji.

A recent blitz of inspection of business across the region by the Ministry of Labour found overall compliance of 42 per cent, said Kurji.

"These findings are not what we were expecting. We thought our businesses knew how to operate safely. We have to make sure they are up to speed and see our incidence rates drop further before considering further relaxation of measures."

Cynthia's Paradise on Yonge Street in Newmarket was among multiple restaurants charged last week by York Region's COVID-19 enforcement task force for violating restrictions, including having more than 10 people dining indoors and not having tables spaced apart by six feet or two meters.

Across the region, 2,294 inspections were conducted, resulting in 52 charges.