The Ontario government is imposing new restrictions on bars and restaurants as the province sees a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. Starting today, all restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Ontario will be permitted to last call at 11 p.m.
Public Health Officials are also ordering that all food and drink establishments must close their doors to customers at midnight, except for those offering takeout and delivery services.
The new curfew also prohibits the consumption of alcohol on the premises between 12:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., including employees, and requires establishments to close by 12:00 a.m. and remain closed until 5:00 a.m.
This is the second major scale back the province is seeing in Stage 3, with the first limiting social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 20 people outdoors.
"Private social gatherings continue to be a significant source of transmission in many local communities, along with outbreak clusters in restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments, including strip clubs, with most cases in the 20-39 age group," says Premier Ford in a release.
With young adults between the ages of 20-39 accounting for more than 60% of new cases, Public Health officials are taking all of the necessary precautionary measures needed to curb a second wave that is already happening in the United States and many other countries.
"As the number of cases have continued to rise, it is evident that despite the tremendous efforts of Ontarians, further action is required to prevent the spread of the virus," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
It remains critically important that everyone continues to follow public health advice in order to stop the transmission of COVID-19 and to protect our communities and small businesses.
