Time to reopen indoor gyms, hair salons, tattoo shops: York Region mayors

Mayors share fears that Ontario COVID-19 reopening plan could lead to dangerous underground economy

Yorkregion.com
June 11, 2021
Kim Zarzour

York Region’s mayors and regional councillors are urging the Ontario government to allow personal services and small indoor gyms to open June 18 as part of Step 1 in the province’s reopening process.

Ontario officially moves into Step 1 as of June 11, allowing some stores to reopen with restrictions and patio dining to resume.

The province moved the reopening process ahead of schedule due to strong vaccination numbers, reduced ICU cases and reduced COVID-19 cases.

York politicians say personal service businesses -- such as tattoo shops and hair and nail salons -- and gyms up to a maximum of 10 people should also be allowed to open, provided they are given an extra week to prepare.

Personal service businesses have been closed since Apr. 3 and suffered greatly throughout the pandemic, the region’s resolution said.

The closure of personal service businesses has led to illegal underground activity and confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to these activities, according to the motion by Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt and seconded by Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas.

Dr. Karim Kurji, the region’s medical officer of health, supported the move, saying public health has noticed an increase in covert, high-risk activities.

"Some of these may be occurring in gyms, where there are a number of loopholes in the regulations, and it is difficult for us to be sure that those regulations are being followed properly," Kurji said.

Personal-service businesses have also been noticed in residential areas, he said.

"From my personal standpoint, it’s going to be quite a challenge to be able to manage this underground economy," should businesses remain closed in the summer and incident levels and case counts continue to drop, he said.

Kurji said restaurants, gyms and personal-service businesses have not been a big driver of infections in York Region.

"Personal-service settings have been particularly good with respect to taking appropriate precautions, as have most other businesses," he said. "In fact, I would urge the province considers reopening our businesses sooner. The realities on the ground have changed."

The motion, passed June 10 and sent to Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Health Christine Elliot, and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Dave Williams, notes that Ontario has vaccinated more than 71 per cent of residents age 12 and older with their first dose and more than 10 per cent with their second dose.

In York Region, 73 per cent of those 12 and older have received first doses and COVID-19 cases have dropped to fewer than 25.5 per 100,000.