Province officially prohibiting gatherings of five or more people

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Published March 29, 2020 at 3:00 am

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After some consideration, the province has moved forward on further restricting social gatherings during COVID-19.

Effective immediately, the Ontario government is issuing a new emergency order to prohibit organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people, based on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

This order replaces the previous emergency order prohibiting events of over 50 people — one that police could enforce with a fine of $750 or more in some cases.

“If we are going to stop the spread of COVID-19 now and keep our communities safe, we need to take extraordinary measures to ensure physical distancing,” said Premier Doug Ford. “I can assure everyone that we will do everything in our power to stop this virus in its tracks.”

This order does not apply to private households with five people or more, operating child care centres supporting frontline health care workers, and first responders, provided the number of persons at each centre does not exceed 50 people.

Funerals are permitted to proceed with up to 10 people at one time.

“These are extraordinary times that demand extraordinary measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect our people. Nothing is more important,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

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