The City of London has come down hard on three women who broke COVID gathering rules.
The two women who organized the "Freedom Protest" in Victoria Park on March 20 have each been issued a summons for organizing an outdoor gathering larger than what's permitted in the Reopening Ontario Act.
The women, ages 24 and 38, face a minimum fine of $10,000 if convicted.
The "Freedom Protest" drew dozens of unmasked people to the park. Protesters said their rights had been violated by the provincial orders.
On Monday, the City also announced that by-law officers have charged a 21-year-old woman following a gathering on Beaufort Street.
It is illegal to have indoor gatherings of any kind during Ontario's stay at home order, which lasts until May 20.
“At a time when cases remain high and we are seeing increased restrictions across Ontario, we appreciate that we continue to see high compliance of regulations,” said London's Chief By-Law Officer Orest Katolyk in a news release. “We encourage all Londoners to follow the Provincial and local health precautions and restrictions in place as we all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19,”
The Middlesex-London Health Unit says there were 69 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with a new record for patients hospitalized with the virus.
