Two Newmarket businesses were fined with breaking public health rules by York Region's COVID-19 enforcement task from March 1 to 7.
Cynthia's Paradise restaurant on Yonge Street at Mulock Drive was fined a total of $880 for having more people dining indoors than the 10 allowed under the provincial framework for reopening.
Public health officers also fined R&T Nail Lounge at B-54 Davis Dr. for not having a COVID-19 safety plan.
While Newmarket bylaw enforcement officers did not issue any charges last week, it did conduct 571 inspections and issued the same amount of education notices.
Several restaurants found themselves in a similar position as Cynthia's Paradise for allowing more than 10 patrons indoors at one time and others for not spacing them apart enough, including Ye Skewers Hot Pot in Aurora, Kayamono Japanese in Vaughan, and O Mei Restaurant, Marado Sushi and Sariwon Korean BBQ Restaurant (x3) in Markham.
Across York Region, 2,294 inspections were conducted, resulting in 52 charges against residents and businesses, as well as 933 education notices:
- 17 charges issued by York Region Public Health
- 5 charges issued by York Region Transit
- 1 charge issued by the Town of Aurora
- 6 charges issued by the City of Markham
- 5 charges issued by the City of Richmond Hill
- 14 charges issued by the City of Vaughan
- 4 charges issued by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Other notable charges laid in the region this week include a fine for a protest held on Town Centre Boulevard at the Markham Civic Centre that violated public gathering restrictions. More than 10 players were on the field at the Markham Sports Dome on 14th Avenue.
The Costco on John Birchall Road in Richmond Hill was charged for lack of physical distancing. That city's Walmart on Silver Linden Drive was also fined for the same reason.
North Restaurant in Vaughan was fined for allowing dancing or live music. While Randevu Restaurant, also in Vaughan, was charged with playing recorded music louder than the level of normal conversation.
A Highway 7 Dollarama location in Vaughan was charged for exceeding 50 per cent capacity limits.
You can see the full list of charges here.
In the year since the pandemic began last March, municipal bylaw officers and other enforcement agencies have completed 47,183 inspections, resulting in 1,017 charges and 24,344 compliance education activities.
