Peel Public Health advises all non-essential businesses and event venues to close in Mississauga

Peel Public Health is strongly recommending non-essential businesses and event venues, including clothing stores and salons, close until April 5, 2020, to support social distancing and help limit the spread of COVID-19.

“In the past day, we are beginning to see evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 in our Region,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh, interim Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel, in a statement. 

“We are grateful that many businesses have already changed their operations to help limit spread of the disease. At this critical moment, however, we must take stricter measures if we are going to succeed at limiting the impacts of this disease on our community. For this reason, I am recommending the closure of all non-essential businesses.”

Non-essential businesses include, but are not limited to, clothing and other non-critical stores, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours, gyms and fitness facilities, car dealerships and repair facilities, banquet halls and conference centres.

Restaurants, bars and food establishments are exempt, so long as they do not provide dine-in service.

Peel Public Health also says residents are encouraged to refrain from going out unless they need groceries, gasoline, medicine (or products from a pharmacy), or medical care. Residents are advised to remain a safe distance (approximately 2 metres) away from others that are not in their immediate family. 

To that end, Peel Public Health says it also strongly recommends against congregating in public settings, including malls, stores, and playgrounds and park play structures. The agency is also reminding businesses named in the province’s emergency order of their responsibility to also cancel and curtail their events.

“Now is the moment to act in order to flatten the curve,” said Dr. Loh. “We need to work together, as individuals and organizations. Wash your hands, stay home whenever possible, avoid travel, practice social distancing, cancel non-essential events and appointments, clean surfaces that are regularly touched, and if you’ve been instructed to self-monitor or self-isolate, please follow those instructions.”