EMPHASIZING ENFORCEMENT

City to crack down on COVID-19 rules

The City of Edmonton will be clamping down on enforcement of new provincial COVID-19 restrictions, which can include a $1,000 fine for non-compliance.

Interim city manager Adam Laughlin told council's emergency advisory committee Thursday that ticket and warning numbers may spike next week as peace officers enforce the new rules.

Officers will be monitoring malls, businesses as well as outdoor public spaces for compliance with restrictions and the face coverings bylaw.

“I've provided direction to our folks to continue to provide the education component, but to be a bit more deliberate in terms of enforcement,” Laughlin told reporters Thursday. “You shouldn't be surprised to see more tickets and quite frankly, we're feeling like we need to do that to make sure people get the point that this is serious and we will enforce these restrictions to ensure that everybody's health is taken into consideration during this time.”

Between Dec. 3-9, city peace officers issued 28 tickets and 371 warnings for violations of COVID-19 orders. Since mandatory masks came into effect in August, the city has issued 30 violation tickets. Half of them have been issued within the last seven days.

Under the new provincial restrictions, all recreation and entertainment venues, personal and wellness services and in-person dining at restaurants must close as of 12:01 a.m. Sunday. Retail businesses can remain open up to 15 per cent of fire code capacity. Outdoor social gatherings are prohibited, but ski hills and outdoor skating rinks can remain open with physical distancing measures in place.

These restrictions are in place until at least Jan. 12. Edmonton Public Library's 21 branches will also need to close Sunday morning.

The city's five recreation centres and four pools will be closing at the end of Friday, one day before the new rules come into place.

These closures will mean temporary layoffs of recreation facility staff, but the number of affected employees wasn't available Thursday.

“Unfortunately, and many businesses are going though this as well, we will have to take steps to do temporary layoffs. Tough step, tough year. 2020 has been extraordinarily difficult not only on citizens but our staff at the City of Edmonton,” he said.

“We're working through those specifics as we speak, but it's unfortunately a necessary step to make sure we are following the restrictions that are needed in place at this time.”

Outdoor amenities such as city rinks, dog parks and the Edmonton Valley Zoo will remain open at this time, but peace officers will monitor for overcrowding.

Capacity at the Victoria Park Oval rink is limited to 280 people and the indoor pavilion is closed except for washroom access. The Meadows ice rink is also open and the Rundle Park Iceway is scheduled to open Friday. The rink at Castle Downs is scheduled to open Dec. 18 with Jackie Parker rink slated to open Dec. 24.

“Residents are also being encouraged to use their personal judgment when outdoors and to consider engaging in an alternate activity like trail walking or tobogganing if they feel a particular area is overcrowded,” city spokesman Christopher Webster said in an email to Postmedia. “City of Edmonton recreation staff will be monitoring and controlling capacity restrictions of ice surfaces and groups, washroom areas, and parking lots during peak times. When capacities are reached, visitors will be turned away.”

There are currently 9,464 active cases of COVID-19 in the Edmonton Zone.

City of Edmonton recreation staff will be monitoring and controlling capacity restrictions ...