Ontario Extends Shutdown as COVID-19 Pandemic Gets Worse

Not only has the COVID-19 Pandemic extended the closure of the US / Canada for at least another month it is also causing the Canadian Province of Ontario to extend its Coronavirus lockdown.

According to reporting by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Ontario Primer Doug Ford announced that the provincial government will increase the enforcement of shutdown rules as coronavirus infections remain high and don't look like they will be decreasing in the near future.

Ontario's shortage of COVID-19 Vaccines, coupled with a lack of essential workers, are among the reasons things have gotten so bad in Canada's largest province.

I've never shied away from telling you the brutal, honest truth... We're losing the battle between the variants and vaccines ... We're on our heels.
-Doug Ford, Primer of Ontario, Canada

The original shutdown that was instituted in early April was set to only last four (4) weeks. These new changes will add two (2) more weeks to the timeline, extending the shutdown until at least May 20th.

Police officers in Ontario will be empowered to stop anyone who is outside of their residence and ask why they are out, this includes pedestrians and vehicles. Investigators will visit various companies and businesses to ensure that only essential workers are present. People who are outside of their homes for non-essential purposes can be issued a ticket. The fine for that ticket is approximately $750 Canadian Dollars.

You can find more information about the enhancements made to the Ontario Emergency Brake, including all of the new details surrounding the shutdown rules, right here.