Provincial 'emergency brake' amid soaring COVID-19 cases parks Markham programs, services for 4 weeks

List of closures, capacity limits for retail, businesses and city programs under third provincewide lockdown

Yorkregion.com
April 6, 2021
Heidi Riedner

The province pulled the “emergency brake” heading into the Easter long weekend as a result of an alarming surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province in the face of a third wave of the pandemic.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are now at their highest level since the beginning of the health-care crisis. These increases are being driven by COVID-19 variants, which are transmitted easily and result in a higher risk of death and hospitalization, including in younger populations.

Measures for the provincewide shutdown enacted as of April 3 and expected to be in force for four weeks include, but are not limited to, restricting in-person shopping in all retail settings, including:

• 50 per cent capacity limit for supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers' markets and other stores that primarily sell food and pharmacies;

• 25 per cent for all other retail, including big box stores;

• Prohibiting personal care services;

• Prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining (takeout, drive-thru and delivery only);

• Prohibiting the use of facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness (such as gyms), with very limited exceptions;

• Requiring day camps to close.

The City of Markham’s COVID-19-affected services are as follows:

• Outdoor, in-person recreation programs are cancelled;

• All park facility washrooms remain closed;

• City-owned community centres, arenas, pools, fitness centres, the Markham Museum, the Flato Markham Theatre and the Varley Art Gallery will remain closed.

The city, however, is continuing to provide critical services to residents and businesses virtually and in person. Services requiring in-person assistance require an appointment.

In addition, library, recreation and fitness programs continue to be offered virtually.

Markham Public Library will continue to offer select online services, including the curbside pickup of holds and returns at Markham Village, Thornhill Village and Unionville locations.

Markham Recycling Depots also remain open.

Businesses that are looking to better understand COVID-19 health and safety regulations can visit markham.ca/CovidEnforcement.

All local restaurants, retailers and artisans are encouraged to join Destination Markham’s online business listing at visitmarkham.ca, where they can be found quickly by a community eager to support local.

Finance, tax and legal workshops, as well as pre-recorded webinars, continue to be available via the Markham Small Business Centre.

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19 while waiting for your vaccination, the city is advising residents to continue to follow public health recommendations.

Residents are also urged not to travel between regions as cases of the COVID-19 variant continue to rise and limit trips outside of the home to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, supporting vulnerable community members or exercising outdoors.

Visit markham.ca/covid19 for more information.