Aurora closes facilities amid new provincial pandemic restrictions

This is not how I was hoping any of us would start the New Year, mayor says

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 6, 2022
Lisa Queen

Aurora is the latest municipality to announce it is closing facilities and programs starting Jan. 5 as Ontario implements another round of pandemic restrictions.

The following are impacted:

All recreation facilities, meeting and event spaces are closed.

Club Aurora Fitness Centre is closed. Virtual classes will continue. Visit aurora.ca/fitnessclasses.

The Aurora Seniors’ Centre is closed.

The Seniors Centre Without Walls program will be operational. Visit aurora.ca/scww.

Aurora Public Library is operating at 50 per cent capacity. Visit aurorapl.ca.

Under the province’s restrictions:

Social gathering limits, including weddings and funerals, are reduced to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.

Indoor dining and food courts are closed.

Retail settings, including shopping malls, are operating at 50 per cent capacity.

Personal care services where face coverings can be worn are operating at 50 per cent capacity.

Indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services are limited to 50 per cent capacity. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing.

Schools move to remote learning starting Jan. 5.

“This is not how I was hoping any of us would start the New Year. We have been through such challenging times the past few years and we all hoped the worst was behind us,” Mayor Tom Mrakas said.

“But the Omicron variant is spreading so quickly and our hospitalization numbers are up again. I ask that you all stay the course to protect yourself and our community, get your vaccinations and boosters to help keep hospitalization numbers down and support our local businesses, who once again will bear the brunt of this announcement.”

Updates on the status of Aurora’s municipal operations, cancellations and disruptions will be posted on aurora.ca/covid19 as the situation changes.

For information on what is open or closed in Aurora, visit aurora.ca/reopen.