BARRIE, ONT. Two more ski resorts are now open, as officials in ski country plead with visitors to stay put. Collingwood s mayor recently asked residents not to leave town and out-of-towners to stay away, saying, This is not the time to be travelling. Mayor Brian Saunderson isn t the only person worried that tourists from grey-lockdown zones may travel north. Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit s medical officer of health, Dr. Charles Gardner, advises the public not to travel between coloured zones. Gardner says he would like Ontario to step in with tougher travel restrictions. It would be helpful for the province to be very vocal about this.
COLLINGWOOD, ONT. Simcoe Muskoka s hospitality industry is bracing for new red zone restrictions as local cases of coronavirus soar. The changes under Ontario s COVID-19 response framework take effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Occupancy at bars and restaurants is limited to ten customers. While there are caps for outdoor dining, those spaces can remain open. Take out, drive-through, and delivery for food and alcohol is permitted. The rules hit hard in Collingwood, a tourist destination where bars and restaurants are part of the community s fabric. Stephen Walker, the owner of 1858 Caesar Bar, expects challenging times ahead. As a restaurateur, there s no doubt I feel for everybody in the hospitality industry. It s difficult for everybody.