hygiene

Saturday June 26, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday June 26, 2021

Ontario to move to Step 2 of reopening ahead of schedule allowing for haircuts

April 25, 2020

The Ontario government has confirmed that the province will enter the second stage of its COVID-19 reopening strategy two days ahead of schedule.

This means that starting Wednesday, people will once again be able to host indoor gatherings of up to five people, meet with up to 25 people outdoors, and finally, after months of closure, book personal care services like hair cuts.

Outdoor performances and team sports can also resume and outdoor attractions such as water parks are allowed to reopen.

June 5, 2020

“Because of the tireless work of our health care heroes, and the record setting success of our vaccine rollout, we are able to move into Step Two ahead of schedule on June 30 with the support of our public health experts,” Premier Doug Ford said in a news release issued Thursday.

The further loosening of public health restrictions means that outdoor dining capacity limits can increase to six people per table, essential retail can double to 50 per cent capacity and non-essential retail can move to 25 per cent capacity, up from 15.

Also, shopping malls can reopen with restrictions and larger indoor religious services, like wedding and funeral services, can resume at 25 per cent capacity.

CTV News Toronto reported Wednesday that Ford was considering moving up the second step of economic reopening by two days.

Hair: Toronto Mayor John Tory

Prior to the announcement, the province had expected to enter Step 2 on July 2 at the earliest.

In order to enter Step 2 of the reopening strategy, the government said it needed to see 70 per cent of adults with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 20 per cent with two doses for at least two weeks.

According to data released by the province, as of Wednesday, over 76 per cent of the population in Ontario above the age of 18 have received their first dose and over 29 per cent have received their second.

Based on Thursday’s announcement, Ontario is expected to enter Step 3 of its reopening plan, which allows for the most lenient of public health restrictions, on July 21 if COVID-19 cases continue to trend downwards and the rate of vaccination remains high. (CTV) 

 

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Native burger shack re-opens despite closure order

CALEDONIA Public health officials are contemplating further legal action after a burger shack on the community’s outskirts reopened Sunday, serving hundreds of customers.

An employee at the neighbouring One Stop Smoke Shop on Highway 6 said the eatery sold out of burgers, fries and other grub during a traditional dance event.

“We had over 400 people here,” said the worker, who would only identify himself as Jum. “The cops didn’t give us any trouble.”

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit ordered the one-room restaurant to close July 12, after finding it lacked running water and a consistent power source. It also failed to contain a proper hand-washing station for employees.

When the little shack refused to comply, public health officials took the issue to court. Last Monday, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued a similar order to shut the burger shack down, but by that point it had already stopped serving food.

The restaurant bucked the court order this past weekend when it reopened for Six Nations’ annual pow-wow. But since an injunction has yet to be issued, OPP officers at Sunday’s event lacked the authority to stop it.

“Our job is public safety — to preserve the peace,” said Constable Mark Foster. “We’re better sometimes to step back, observe and then follow up later as we did with other incidents in the Caledonia area.”

Both the burger shack and smoke shop were built on the old portion of the highway at Argyle Street South — an area that is the subject of an unresolved land claim filed with the federal government. (Source: The Hamilton Spectator)