Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman issued an emergency order Thursday morning to immediately close and fence off Meridian Place to prevent gatherings amid a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the last number of weekends, demonstrations protesting Ontario's lockdown have taken place at Meridian Place, some of which have garnered hundreds of attendees.
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“In the interests of public health and safety, I have signed an emergency order closing Meridian Place,” Lehman said in a statement.
“The gatherings that put people's lives at risk need to stop. I want to thank residents of Barrie who have stayed home to keep each other safe at this critical point in the pandemic.”
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Lehman said the city will continue to pursue additional steps to stop gatherings and to hold those responsible accountable.
The city is urging all residents to comply with Ontario's stay-at-home order provincial regulations, Barrie's COVID-19 emergency measures by-law and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's guidelines.
