News Release: March 20, 2020
Peel Public Health advises non-essential businesses and event venues to close to help protect the public from COVID-19
Brampton, ON. (March 20, 2020) – Peel Public Health is strongly recommending non-essential businesses and event venues close until April 5, 2020 to support social distancing and help limit the spread of COVID-19.
“In the past day, we are beginning to see evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 in our Region,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh, interim Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel. “We are grateful that many businesses have already changed their operations to help limit spread of the disease. At this critical moment, however, we must take stricter measures if we are going to succeed at limiting the impacts of this disease on our community. For this reason, I am recommending the closure of all non-essential businesses.”
Non-essential businesses include, but are not limited to, clothing and other non-critical stores, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours, gyms and fitness facilities, car dealerships and repair facilities, banquet halls and conference centres.
Restaurants, bars and food establishments are exempt, so long as they do not provide in-person service.
Peel Public Health urges everyone to make efforts at social distancing. Residents are encouraged to limit their time out to necessary purposes (e.g., groceries, gasoline, pharmacy, or medical care) or in outdoor spaces while maintaining a safe distance (approximately 2 metres) away from others that are not in their immediate family.
To that end, Peel Public Health also strongly recommends against congregating in public settings, including malls, stores, and playgrounds and park play structures, and issues a reminder to settings named in the province’s emergency order of their responsibility to also cancel and curtail their events.
“Now is the moment to act in order to flatten the curve,” said Dr. Loh. “We need to work together, as individuals and organizations. Wash your hands, stay home whenever possible, avoid travel, practice social distancing, cancel non-essential events and appointments, clean surfaces that are regularly touched, and if you’ve been instructed to self-monitor or self-isolate, please follow those instructions.”
The Region of Peel works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.5 million people and over 175,000 businesses in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the Town of Caledon. Peel’s services touch the lives of residents every day. Recognized as a leader in management and service delivery, the Region of Peel received Excellence Canada’s Platinum Award for Excellence, Innovation and Wellness®. For more information about the Region of Peel, explore peelregion.ca and follow us on Twitter at @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
Media Contacts
Scott Fry
Communication Specialist
Region of Peel
647-224-8643