Ontario imposes new COVID-19 restrictions on Toronto, Ottawa and Peel

Ontario is imposing new restrictions in Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The government is prohibiting indoor dining at restaurants and bars and closing gyms, movie theatres and casinos.

The measures will go into effect Saturday and will be in place for at least 28 days.

CONFIRMED: Ford government will be moving Toronto, Ottawa and Peel to “modified Stage 2 restrictions” for at least 28 days. Gov’t says this is in response to “higher than average” rates of transmission of #COVID19

— CHCH News (@CHCHNews) October 9, 2020

People in those areas are being asked to leave their homes only for essential purposes.

The new restrictions come as Ontario marked a record 939 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday.

Toronto, Peel and Ottawa have been leading the province in new daily case counts for weeks.

The government says if current trends continue, the province could experience “worst-case scenarios” seen in northern Italy and New York City earlier in the pandemic.