With the province still under a stay-at-home order, six Toronto-area residents have been charged under the Reopening of Ontario Act at a short-term rental property in the Township of Oro-Medonte.
The OPP says officers attended a short-term rental property on Lakeshore Road in Oro-Medonte, a township in south-central Ontario on the northwestern shores of Lake Simcoe in Simcoe County, at 10:30 pm on May 22 after receiving a complaint that several people had congregated at the residence.
Police alleged the gathering was in contravention of mandatory COVID-19 restrictions under the provincial pandemic lockdown.
READ: Ford Announces Ontario Will ‘Safely’ Reopen In Coming Weeks
Officers who attended the property identified six individuals inside the residence, all from the Toronto area. As a result, all six individuals were charged, by way of Provincial Offence Notices, with - Individual - fail to comply with a continued section 7.0.2 order, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Reopening of Ontario Act.
Police said each individual received a notice, which carry fines of about $800.
Due to the province-wide stay-at-home order, which is expected to last until at least June 2, people are not allowed to gather indoors or outdoors with anyone they do not live with. People who live alone could gather with one other household.
Organizers of a larger gathering could be fined a minimum of $10,000, and each attendee may receive a $750 ticket.
Once the province moves into Phase 2 of its reopening plan -- which occurs when 70% of adults have received their first vaccination and 20% have been vaccinated with both doses -- small indoor gatherings of up to five guests will be allowed.
