Edmonton hair, nail and tattoo shops must close, council decides
Restaurants and shopping malls can stay open for now
Personal serviceshops in Edmonton,including hair and nail salons, barbershops, tattoo parlours and body rub parlours, will have to close after city council approved of the measure Thursday.
Interim city manager Adam Laughlinhad asked council to support the step in ongoing efforts to curbthe spread of the coronavirus.
Laughlin said the order will affect about1,000 store-front businesses and 500 home-based businesses andis effective immediately.
"But our folks are going to be very diplomatic in terms of the implementation of that," he told media after the meeting.
Laughlin acknowledged the hardships that businesses in Edmonton are going through.
"But you can help us that if you can takesteps on your own to close, that certainly helps our peace officers and our EPS to navigate through that."
City administration must still determine how much the fine will be for shop owners violating the order.
The city approved the order ahead of any direction from the province. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health,said Alberta would only order personal services closedif it was deemed necessary.
"We haven't reached that time yet," Hinshaw said Thursday evening during a Facebook Live address with Premier Jason Kenney.
This is not a suggestion, this is a requirement.- Interim city manager Adam Laughlin
During a meeting at city hall, council'semergency advisory committee also unanimously extended the city's state of localemergency, declared last Friday.
The declaration must be renewed every seven days.
Under the state of local emergency,the city manager can order extreme measures, such as shutting down non-essential businesses, thoughLaughlin said he would consult council before makingdecisions unilaterally.
Laughlin listedgrocery stores, pharmacies, telecommunications providers, businesses supporting power, natural gas and drinking water, banking and financial services, and construction as essential services.
He also said he considers transit an essential service.
He's not yet recommending shopping centres or restaurants close but reminded people to keep two metres apart.
Councilsupported the move to order anyone who's been travelling or who tested positive for COVID-19 toself-isolate under provincial and federal requirements, and for people tomaintain a physicaltwo-metre separation,includingin outdoor spaces and parks.
"This is not a suggestion, this is a requirement under this order," Laughlin said.
However, family members andclose personal relationships aren't required to exercise the same strict physical distancing.
"If you're with your family I mean, it will be a question we'll ask, 'Is this your family, is this your relationship?' And if it is, we'll exercise latitude in terms of enforcement."
Mayor Don Iveson participated in the meeting over the phone, as he remains inself-isolation with cold symptoms.
"I don't want to have to take some of the same measures that mayors in Italy have taken," Iveson said. "But trust me, I will if I have to."
Iveson was referring to the citytakingmore drastic measures such asclosingparks and river valley stairs, as well as ordering furthernon-essential businesses to close or forcing a completelockdown of the city.
"No mayor wants to see their city's death toll rise from something that is preventable, so we need everyone doing their part," Iveson said.
Enforcement
Laughlin said the city will monitor people's behaviour closely, but didn't say how much pressure there would be for peace officers and police to issue tickets.
Wednesday, the province gave municipal police and peace officers the authority to give out fines if they find people aren't heeding the rules.
Kenney said the province is sanctioning municipal enforcement to fine individuals $1,000 for defying distancing requirements under the state of public health emergency.
Courts may also order a $100,000 fine for a first offence and up to $500,000 for a subsequent offence for more serious violations, which could include establishments like a bar or nightclub opening or a recreational facility.
Council is scheduled to meet again Monday and is expected to discuss the status of ongoing construction projects.
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