In the continuing crackdown on violators of public safety orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, 26 charges were laid against York Region businesses and their customers last week.
More than 2,200 inspections, which included 852 compliance education activities, were completed by officers with the York Region COVID-19 enforcement task force from Jan. 18 to 24, according to York Region spokesperson Patrick Casey.
No charges were laid by Newmarket bylaw enforcement officers.
Daisy Mart, Little Bee Mart, and Shoprite Convenience in Sutton were among the convenience stores each facing fines of $880 for not complying with lockdown rules.
Georgina enforcement officers also laid charges against an owner providing short-term rental accommodation on Cook's Bay Drive in Keswick, and the Ultramar gas station in Sutton.
Two patrons of an unidentified Richmond Hill business on Wilmont Street, which is listed as a dance studio, were charged fines totalling $880 each by Richmond Hill bylaw enforcement.
At Peonyx, a pilates studio in Vaughan, charges for attending a social gathering indoors and failing to remain in the place of residence were issued.
Charges were laid at two Shoppers Drug Mart locations, at 4630 Highway 7 East in Markham for the self-checkout not being sanitized after use, and at 9200 Dufferin St. in Concord for masks not being worn.
Details are not provided for the five charges laid by York Regional Police and four charges issued by York Region Transit.
A complete list of charges and closures is available on york.ca/COVID19
The previous week, Jan. 11 to 17, a record 45 charges were laid, including against Shoppers, Walmart, No Frills and Food Basics.
Task force officers will continue to visit essential businesses and other locations to ensure public health measures under the emergency declaration act are being met, Casey said.
The summary of charges issued Jan. 18 to 24 under the provincial Reopening Ontario Act and Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act is:
- 1 charge issued by York Region Public Health
- 4 charges issued by York Region Transit
- 5 charges issued by York Regional Police
- 5 charges issued by the Town of Georgina
- 6 charges issued by the City of Markham
- 2 charges issues by the City of Richmond Hill
- 3 charges issued by the City of Vaughan
Since last March, public health inspectors, municipal bylaw officers and other enforcement agencies have completed 35,977 inspections, resulting in 820 charges and 20,148 compliance education activities.
