York Region latest to face stricter COVID-19 restrictions

‘I hate doing this,’ Ford says after ‘alarming’ surge in virus cases

TORONTO — Ontario announced stricter health measures for York Region on Friday in an effort contain what the province is calling an “alarming” surge in COVID-19 cases in that area.

Premier Doug Ford said the region will be moved back into a modified Stage 2 of the province’s pandemic plan, which bars indoor service in restaurants, closes gyms and movie theatres, and restricts public gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.

The tighter measures take effect Monday and will be in place for 28 days.

“I hate doing this,” Ford said in announcing the restrictions on Friday. “We just have to stop the spread.”

The announcement comes a week after Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa were placed under similar restrictions amid rising cases.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said there has been an “alarming upward trend” in cases in York Region recently, and evidence of community spread that requires stronger public health measures.

“We sincerely hope that we don’t have to do it in any of the other regions,” she said, adding the province is currently looking at Halton Region.

York Region’s chair and CEO, Wayne Emmerson, and its medical officer of health, Dr. Karim Kurji, issued a joint statement urging residents to abide by the new rules.

“While this is not the news any of us wanted to hear, it is a grim reminder the virus is still a threat to the 1.2 million people who call York Region home,” the pair said in the statement.

Critics, however, said the move is evidence the province failed to take the necessary steps to prepare for the second wave of the pandemic.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the Ford government has been “waiting until things are far down the road” before taking action.

She pointed to the province’s decision to wait until after the weekend to impose the new restrictions on York Region, when the other three areas where given less than 12 hours notice.