By Elishya Perera
TORONTO, Canada (CWBN)_Canada’s largest province Ontario ordered indoor restaurants and gyms, as well as cinemas, to be closed in three COVID-19 hotspots of the province, Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa. The measures will be effective starting 12:01 a.m. today. Indoor gyms will include fitness centres, yoga studios and dance studios, while indoor dinning restrictions will apply to restaurants, bars, nightclubs and food courts in malls. In addition to cinemas, casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments are also ordered to close. Meanwhile, residents are requested to not leave their houses except for essential purposes.
At a news conference held on Thursday (8th October), Premier of Ontario Doug Ford stated that he can’t stress enough how difficult it was for him to close these businesses, adding it was the hardest decision he has ever made in office. “My heart just breaks for these folks and I understand what this decision means to each and every one of you,” Ford said. “I can tell you that I didn’t sleep last night. Believe me this weighs heavy on me for making this decision. I know what this will do for businesses that are already struggling.”
Meanwhile, making a stay-at-home plea, Health Minister Christine Elliott said, “We know this is no small sacrifice, particularly as we are entering the Thanksgiving long weekend. Please only celebrate with those in your household and gather with friends and family virtually.”
According to Ford, $300 million will soon be made available to assist small businesses with their fixed costs during the next 28 days, and he promised to release more details in the coming days. The government support measures will also include waiving off provincial and municipal property tax bills, Hydro and natural gas bills.
According to Ontario’s latest epidemiological report, new case numbers in the province spiked over 900 on Friday (9th October), for the first time since the pandemic began, with 336 new cases confirmed in Toronto, 150 in Peel Region, and 126 in Ottawa. The province said that 47 people are in intensive care and 29 are on a ventilator.
