Try refreshing your browser, or Today's letters: Focus should be on social gatherings during COVID, not shutting businesses Back to video Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches has warned that Ottawa is on the brink of moving from the “orange” to the “red” zone, as key COVID-19 indicators are heading in the wrong direction. She has expressed specific concern about people once again gathering in groups of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors, as allowed under the current rules. Rather than imposing additional restrictions on businesses or locking them down yet again, I would suggest that the province simply impose stricter limits on private social gatherings in all zones under the colour-coded framework. Unmonitored gatherings are responsible for much of the community spread of COVID-19, and people tend to relax their behaviours if they are permitted to do so under the rules in place.