As restrictions begin to ease and parts of Ontario's economy re-open, Grey Bruce's Medical Officer of Health is strongly recommending citizens in the area not hold garage or yard sales.
Dr. Ian Arra says it is a critical stage right now where we've been able to control the COVID-19 outbreak and flatten the curve, and the easing of restrictions is going to allow people to have more activity.
Arra says if it is an activity that is not controlled or following best practices, it can increase the risk of transmission.
“If a person goes to a grocery store there are policies and enough social distancing … that would prevent the transmission of the disease,” Dr. Arra explains. “Such regulations do not exist if the setting is a garage sale.”
At this point, Arra says the direction is a “strong recommendation” to not hold garage or yard sales in Grey or Bruce counties.
The region's medical officer of health is hopeful for voluntary compliance from residents in the two counties, but won't rule out using authority outlined in provincial legislation to ensure people are not holding garage sales in Grey Bruce.
The Health Protection and Promotion Act grants broad powers to medical officers of health to issue orders that may require a person to take or to refrain from taking any action that is specified in respect of a communicable disease.
“At this point we see that most of the public has been doing the right thing and following the recommendations, so there is no need to go with an order. Rather, it would be a strong recommendation not to have garage sales,” Arra says. “If there is compliance from the public, that's great. If not, I would be issuing an order for our local area to prohibit garage sales.”
“I trust the public is going to do the right thing and there is no need to go with an order if recommendations are complied with.”
For those looking to pursue second-hand or other private property sales, the health unit is recommending contactless pick-up and drop-offs for transactions.