Cobourg Police Service Requests Compliance with Emergency Brake Shutdown

Pete Fisher
4 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local, Police Blotter

Individuals that refuse to comply will be charged accordingly.
The Cobourg Police Service (CPS) supports all measures necessary to limit
the spread of COVID-19 in our community and will continue to work with local public health,
municipal and regional officials to ensure compliance.

On April 1, 2021, the Government of Ontario announced a province-wide shutdown effective as of 12:01 am on
Saturday, April 3, 2021. The Town of Cobourg, within the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District
Health Unit region, will move to the ‘Emergency Brake’ Shutdown – placing Ontario’s colour-coded
COVID-19 Response Framework on pause for the time being. This means new stricter public health
restrictions and measures will be in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. These measures are in
place for the next four weeks. The most up to date information can be found by visiting the
Government of Ontario website.

Throughout the pandemic, CPS has taken an educational approach enacting the four Es (Engage,
Explain, Educate, and Enforce), working with individuals, groups, and businesses to gain compliance
with evolving rules. CPS asks the community to follow all Shutdown guidelines for the well-being of
our community and to ensure the capacity of our health care system.

With the Province moving into shutdown, the Cobourg Police will be enforcing violations, issuing
tickets to anyone who does not comply with provincial guidelines and restrictions. Those that refuse
to comply will be charged accordingly.

Under the Shutdown, everyone must maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from others
and wear a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose and chin in indoor public spaces
(with limited exceptions).

Shutdown gathering restrictions:
• It is illegal to gather indoors with anyone you do not live with.
Individuals who live alone and single parents may consider having exclusive, close contact
with another household to help reduce the negative impacts of social isolation.

• Outdoor organized public events and social gatherings must comply with public health advice
on physical distancing and have no more than five (5) people.

“We are asking residents to comply with health guidelines and restrictions set by the Province for the
health and well-being of the community. With the current trend in COVID-19 cases across Ontario,
violations of set health guidelines pose a threat to public health and safety,” says Chief Paul
VandeGraaf, Cobourg Police Service.

“If residents refuse to comply with the guidelines, they will be charged accordingly without hesitation. We thank those citizens who are doing their part and expect full cooperation as we work together to keep the community healthy and safe. If it is not essential, please stay home.”

Fines for Shutdown Zone violations include:
• Fail to Comply with an order: $750
• Obstruct any Person Exercising a Power in Accordance with an Order: $1,000
• Obstruct any Person Performing a Duty in Accordance with an Order: $1,000
• Organizers of private gatherings that exceed gathering limits can receive a minimum fine of
$10,000, and individuals can also receive tickets of $750
A Victim FINE Surcharge is an additional $125 for each of the above charges.

If a public health region experiences a rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission or if its health system
is at risk of becoming overwhelmed, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the
local medical officer of health, can request the government activate the “emergency brake” and
move the region into the Shutdown at any time.

On April 1, 2021, The Government of Ontario, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of
Health, announced a province-wide move to the ‘Emergency Brake’ Shutdown placing Ontario’s
colour-coded COVID-19 Response Framework on pause for the time being. This means new stricter
public health restrictions and measures will be in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. Details of this
announcement can be found on the Government of Ontario’s website.

Ontario is expected to remain in the shutdown for at least four weeks but could be extended. The
Cobourg Police Service supports all measures necessary to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our
community and will continue to work with local public health, municipal and regional officials to
ensure compliance.

Resources
Government of Ontario
Ontario Implements Provincewide Emergency Brake –
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/60986/ontario-implements-provincewide-emergency-brake

HKPR District Health Unit
https://www.hkpr.on.ca/covid-19/

Town of Cobourg Information
https://www.cobourg.ca/covid-19