Regional mayors pledge to enforce COVID guidelines
The COVID-19 situation in Windsor-essex is escalating, and so must enforcement of preventive rules and restrictions, say all of the region's municipal leaders.
In a Zoom meeting with the health unit on Wednesday, every mayor in Windsor-essex agreed it's time for a stronger hand on the measures necessary to contain the novel coronavirus.
“The time to educate is over,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, the warden of Essex County, said that after nine months of “asking nicely and politely,” everyone should be in compliance with mandatory masking, hand hygiene, physical distancing, gathering limits, self-isolation when feeling symptoms and minimizing close contacts.
On Nov. 16, the provincial government officially moved Windsor-essex from “green” to “yellow” status on the Ontario COVID-19 response framework — the result of surging numbers in new local cases.
“This recent decision should be a wake-up call for everyone in our region,” Dilkens said. “We've already moved up one notch in the wrong direction. If we want to avoid being further restricted, we need everyone in our community to follow these guidelines.”
Dilkens said that after the province's decision, the City of Windsor, Windsor Police Service, and the Windsor-essex County Health Unit met and agreed that police and bylaw enforcement of COVID-19 regulations must significantly increase.
“Beginning right away,” Dilkens said. “We agreed that enforcement blitzes will be coming, and that charges will be laid to those who violate these important public health rules.”
Windsor's mayor noted that the penalties can be significant. “The magnitude of the fine involved here is not small. It will have an impact — $750 and up. It can actually go to $5,000 in certain circumstances.”
Lasalle Mayor Marc Bondy said he has spoken with Lasalle police, and they are also “onboard” with more stringent enforcement.
“They will be issuing fines,” Bondy promised.
Bondy called out the “carefree, careless people” who insist on going where they want and doing what they want without masks or regard for others.
“Welcome to Lasalle, but if you're not doing what you're supposed to, if you're not following the guidelines, and police are called — they will be visiting wherever you are at.
“I caution everyone. This is not a threat. It's just that we have rules to follow.”
Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald expressed frustration there are people in her community using religious exemption as an excuse to avoid mask-wearing.
“It's been quite problematic,” Macdonald said. “We've been threatened with a lawsuit, as have some of our businesses.
“These folks are walking around in defiance. It is just unfair,” she said with exasperation. “This is a health issue. This is not a religious issue.”
Meanwhile, in Windsor, anti-mask protests have become a regular occurrence.
“That doesn't give anyone a free pass in the name of protest,” said Dr. Wajid Ahmed of the Windsor-essex County Health Unit, who participated in Wednesday's meeting.
If we want to avoid being further restricted, we need everyone in our community to follow these guidelines.
Ahmed noted in a presentation that protests are not exempt from enforceable regulations: Demonstrations cannot be larger than 100 people outdoors, there must be distancing of two-metres between participants, and face coverings are required when distancing is not possible.
But the meeting was not only about scolding the public: Several participants emphasized that there is “light at the end of the tunnel.”
“It's not the end of the world,” Ahmed said. “There are many candidate vaccines that are showing promising results.”
Mcnamara pointed out that this is not the first pandemic North America has dealt with: “We can make a difference. We need to buckle down and beat back this terrible virus by making smart, selfless choices. And we know we can do it, because we've done it before.”