The Ford government is lowering the number of people allowed to attend private social gatherings to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors across all of Ontario, effective immediately.
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement this morning alongside Health Minister Christine Elliott at Queen’s Park.
The new restrictions come as health officials reported more than 400 new cases in Ontario for a second straight day, although nearly 70 per cent of those are in the three hotspot areas of Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region.
In Grey Bruce, two new cases were confirmed by the health unit yesterday. There are just three active known cases in the region.
“Folks, the alarm bells are ringing,” Ford says. “And too much of it has been tied to people who aren’t following the rules. People who think it’s ok to hold parties, to carry on as if things are back to normal. They aren’t.”
Health Minister Elliott says the latest action is based on recommendations from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Public Health Measures Table.
“It is in direct response to the latest data, that tells us private social gatherings are a significant contributor to the recent increase in cases,” Elliott says.
According to a government release, indoor and outdoor events cannot be merged under the new rules (private social gatherings of 35 are not permitted).
Unmonitored and private social gatherings include functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, barbecues or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks and other recreational areas.
A provincial government release explains the new limits will not apply to events or gatherings held in staffed businesses and facilities, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, convention centres, banquet halls, gyms, places of worship, recreational sporting or performing art events.
The Ford government plans to pass amendments to the Reopening Ontario Act that would introduce a new offence regarding hosting or organizing a gathering in residential premises or other prescribed premises that exceeds limits under an order, with a minimum of $10,000 for organizers.
Ontario applies lower limits for unmonitored and private social gatherings to entire province, effective September 19, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. https://t.co/ILQ9VYcrNO pic.twitter.com/9657wu8FqJ
— ONTHealth (@ONThealth) September 19, 2020
The lower limit of 10 people indoors or 25 outdoors applies to all unmonitored social gatherings including parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks & other recreational area to ↓ #COVID19 spread https://t.co/ILQ9VYcrNO pic.twitter.com/LdGYZUSB5s
— ONTHealth (@ONThealth) September 19, 2020