Group gatherings large and small continue to generate public complaints in Newmarket particularly for physical distancing, according to the town’s regulatory services manager.
For the third straight week, the town’s bylaw enforcement unit logged increased numbers of formal complaints concerning the public health measure of keeping at least a six-foot distance from others who are not in your household.
“We commonly receive calls for social distancing directly related to gatherings,” Flynn Scott said.
This includes backyard gatherings, groups in parks, youths playing soccer or basketball, and those gathered not practising physical distancing, he added.
From May 25 to May 31, there were 21 complaints made about physical distancing. That is up from 18 the previous week, and 14 the week before.
Town bylaw officers continue to take an education-first approach to Ontario’s emergency orders that remain in effect that bans gatherings of more than five people and keeping a six-foot distance between others.
There were no tickets issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which carry fines starting at $750. However, the number of warnings issued through public education and voluntary compliance nearly doubled over two weeks.
There were 289 proactive park patrols conducted the last week of May, 3,648 interactions and observations among bylaw officers, and 98 warnings issued, up from 82 the previous week.
While it appears that most citizens are remaining vigilant with public health measures put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, bylaw is receiving an increase in the number of complaints regarding youth, who are gathering in fields, on basketball courts, and throughout the community, Scott noted.
“People have been great for the most part,” he said, adding there are still spikes in parks and physical distancing calls coming in.
In York Region, the percentage of coronavirus infection rates among those aged between 20 to 34 now equals the number of cases of people who are 80 and over, at 19 per cent, as of June 4.
Local bylaw has also addressed some confusion about wearing face masks in public and at stores.
Citizens have called the town to inquire about business practices related to face coverings, including store employees not wearing them or the rules around customers being required to don them.
“These complaints are only educational, as there is no mandated requirement for masks and no bylaw authority to enforce,” said Scott.
With regard to the recently revamped 30-minute parking maximum on certain portions of Main Street to help merchants providing curbside pickup, ticket violations more than doubled over the previous week.
The last week of May saw five tickets issued, up from two the week prior, but just one written warning issued, down from three the week before.
