York Region's COVID-19 enforcement task force has laid four charges in the past two weeks for individuals violating re-opening rules. This will be the last bi-weekly report as restrictions have now been lifted in many sectors, effective March 1.
One of the charges between Feb. 14 and 28 was issued by Whitchurch-Stouffville bylaw officers for a resident who refused to wear a mask or show proof of vaccination. The other three charges were all laid by York Region Transit. The charges come with a total fine of $880.
In the past two weeks, the task force visited 267 businesses and carried out 124 compliance education activities. None of these were done by Town of Newmarket enforcement officers.
Patrick Casey, director of corporate communications with York Region, said "with the new regulations now in effect under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020, York Region will no longer report bi-weekly enforcement activities."
As of March 1, proof of vaccination is no longer required by the province in settings such as gyms, restaurants and other businesses. While businesses and organizations can choose to require proof of vaccination from their patrons, Casey said York Region Public Health will not be involved in enforcement-activities related to this.
This last report comes just shy of two years from when the task force first began enforcement on March 18, 2020.
In that time they have inspected 78,976 businesses and carried out 34,781 compliance education activities. Since the start of enforcement 1,613 charges have been laid against businesses and individuals found violating re-opening rules.
