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TORONTO – Toronto shoppers flooded stores and malls on Saturday as many tried to cram last-minute Christmas shopping before non-essential businesses closed for nearly a month during the looming city lockdown.
On Monday, Toronto and the Peel region will enter a block, which will close most non-essential businesses, including servicing restaurants, gyms and hairdressers. The block should last at least 28 days. Hamilton, Durham and York will all be located in the red zone of the province.
The lineups in department stores have stretched the length of Toronto’s blocks. Many said they were doing Christmas shopping before the retailers closed.
Malls, including Yorkdale Shopping Center and Toronto Eaton Center, and many hairdressers have extended their hours to meet the high demand.
Mimi Kypreos, a boutique owner in Toronto, said she was worried about facing an uncertain future next Monday.
“This really upset me because I survived the first time and rushed like crazy,” Kypreos, owner of Mimi’s Boutique, told CTV News.
Kypreos said she was frustrated by the rules surrounding companies that can remain open under Ontario’s lockdown restrictions.
“I can walk away from the company, close the doors and have one client here at a time. So I’m frustrated we opened Walmart. How do you socially distance yourself in Walmart? “
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has urged residents to shop locally instead of shopping online or through large retailers, but many of these larger stores will remain open as small independent businesses close their doors.
Ontario’s upcoming restrictions are designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. Ontario broke the record of new daily cases on Saturday along with three other provinces: New Brunswick, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Dr Lawrence Loh, a health officer for the Peel region, said the new lockdown is necessary.
“This closure is needed now to keep it under control in our communities to stop the flow in our hospitals and to protect our schools and long-term care homes,” he said.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist, said it is yet to be seen how much difference the Ontario blockade will make, but he is optimistic.
“It will take some time to see the results of a policy like this implemented,” Bogoch told CTV News Channel on Saturday.
But Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist, said he disagrees with the province’s decision to shut down small businesses while allowing larger grocery-aisled retailers, such as Costco and Walmart, to stay. open.
“I don’t see any problems with hairdressers. I don’t see any problems with small shops. I see a problem with big stores staying open, “he said.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti encouraged Ontarians to abide by blockade rules and not to travel outside their home regions to shop in other areas with wider restrictions.
“The red zone is here for a reason. We need to reduce the number of cases. This is everyone’s priority, “he said.
In Manitoba, a ban on in-person sales of non-essential items was announced Thursday and went into effect on Friday.
“I’m urging the Winnipeggers to stay home and support the venue,” Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman told CTV News on Saturday. “If you have the means, support local, order takeaway and make your purchases as soon as possible.”
Canada reported 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. Since March, more than 324,000 Canadians have tested positive for COVID-19 and 11,406 have died.
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