The Province Rolls Back Restrictions On Social Gatherings In Toronto, Peel And Ottawa

Friday, 18 September 2020 07:00

Effective today residents in these regions can only have ten people indoors, and a maximum of 25 people at an outdoor event. Currently these restrictions do not apply to businesses like theatres and restaurants.

ONTARIO - Premier Doug Ford says there is a big difference between going to school and attending a big party.

He defended keeping schools open after announcing a roll back on restrictions for social gatherings yesterday in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa.

Effective today residents in those regions can only have ten people indoors, and a maximum of 25 people at an outdoor event. Currently these restrictions do not apply to businesses like theatres and restaurants.

The NDP has put forth a mandate to cap class sizes at 15. Premier Doug Ford was asked why he didn't cap class sizes when announcing the new limits on social gatherings.

"We are comparing apples and oranges here, we are comparing a school that has cohorts and teachers supervising with social distancing, wearing masks, sanitizer and having nurses on hand and comparing it to a wild party in the back yard where people are hugging, kissing, spitting and every other thing you can thing of, not paying attention to the rules and spreading COVID, it's unacceptable."

Chief Medical Officer for Ontario, Dr. David Williams says you cannot compare a backyard party to a classroom setting.

"When we are dealing with our schools, we have set up a large structure on how to handle that, where people are asked to do a self assessment themselves and for their children before they even go to school. To undertake rules and practices to not go to school, to undergo testing when necessary, as the Minister already noted we already have cohorts in the classroom, this is not a new group that is coming together everyday."

Dr. Williams says this is completely different than a party where they don't know who is coming, people aren't wearing masks and they are not following public health guidelines.