The city says it will be increasing inspections of shopping centres and retail stores as the holiday shopping season revs up.
"Stores should have hand sanitizer at every entrance, limit the number of customers inside, have measures in place to keep people least two metres apart, and employees and shoppers should be wearing masks as required,l" says a city news release.
The city is prepared to issue fines for significant or repeat violations. Fines for violating a provincial order under the Emergency Measures Act can range from $750 to $100,000.
The city said it is also hearing concerns about people coming to Guelph to shop because of higher restrictions or lockdowns in other communities.
“To echo the words of Ontario’s Premier and Chief Medical Officer of Health, we’re all in this together,” said Mayor Cam Guthrie in the news release. “We are trusting people to do the right thing and only travel when it’s necessary."
According to Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework: keeping Ontario safe and open, businesses in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph must follow guidelines for level orange/restrict.
“Local businesses are the livelihood of our community and supporting local has never been more important. We encourage Guelphites to shop, eat, and support local, whenever they can. We applaud businesses in Guelph who have pivoted their operations to ensure a safe customer experience, including options for shopping online and curbside pickup. We encourage all businesses to continue to implement the recommended safety protocols outlined by public health,” said Shakiba Shayani, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.
A directory of local stores and services is available at guelphshops.ca. Business can add a listing from the website, or email [email protected].
COVID-19 cases increasing in Guelph
“As we enter the holiday season, we must remain vigilant. COVID is still circulating in our community and cases are rising. As a community, we want to stay as open as possible, support local businesses and keep all of us safe. To do that, we need to continue to adhere to the public health measures that protect the patrons and staff of our local businesses. I thank the members of our local business community and the City’s Bylaw team for everything they’re doing to protect residents of Guelph,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, chief medical officer for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
