COVID-19 rules tightened in Perth, Smiths Falls after cases rise

Health officials in theLeeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit are implementing new rules in the towns of Perth, Ont., and Smiths Falls, Ont., to crack down ona rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The region is currently in the yellow zone under Ontario's colour-coded pandemic scale, one step up from the lowest level.

But the region's medical officer of health, Dr. Paula Stewart, is implementing an order that will see sports facilities close and restrictions put in place forother businessesin those two towns as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

"The purpose of this Class Order is to help contain the community outbreak of COVID-19 that is occurring in the western portion of Lanark County," Stewart wrote in a release.

"This Class Order willreduce opportunities for people to gather and have close unprotected contact with others outside their household in public and private facilities."

36 active cases

The order comes as the health unit has seen a rise in the number of cases in the western part of the region, and just weeks after a surge in cases in the eastern partled to a similar order.

As of Tuesday, there were 36 active cases in Perth, Smiths Falls, Tay Valley, and Lanark Highlands, with most cases in the former two towns, the health unit said.

The health unit said the rise in cases has affected a number of businesses, sports facilities, schools and families, and it has seen people not wearing masks consistently, spending time with others in close contact, and going to work with mild symptoms.

• Restrictions tightened in eastern Lanark County after rise in COVID-19 cases
• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit to move to yellow zone

Under the new rules, sports facilities must close, as must facilities operated byclubs and organizations. Places of worship can only be 30 per cent full for weddings, funerals, or religious services.

People can be fined up to $5,000 a day for any violations.

Members of the Perth Curling Club who played matches or socialized between March 5 and 12 are nowbeing asked to self-isolate.

A fifth person at Beckwith Public School which was closed last Friday in Beckwith, Ont., has also tested positive, although that person wasn't at the school when they were infectious and there is no risk to staff or students from that case, the health unit said.

Health officials will decide on Mondaywhether the school can reopen.