Hirji says Niagara ‘trending’ toward benchmarks set for relaxing dining curbs

Two Conservative MPS send medical officer letter asking him to consider lifting Section 22 order

Niagara’s two Conservative MPS want the region’s acting medical officer of health to consider removing restrictions in his Section 22 order that allow only members of the same household to dine together at restaurant patios.

In their joint June 17 letter to Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Niagara Falls MP Tony Baldinelli and Niagara West MP Dean Allison said Niagara is one of the only regions that limits dining strictly to people within the same household, with a few exceptions.

“As we enter the second week of the provincial government’s reopening plan, we share the concerns of both business owners and patrons across Niagara, who are eager to offer their services to individuals beyond their immediate family members,” states the letter.

“Despite seeing a renewed sense of hope across Niagara, the enforcement of the Section 22 order, specifically that which limits dining to just four members of the same household, continues to be met with frustration.”

The letter states Step 1 of the provincial framework allows for outdoor dining with individuals beyond immediate family members.

They wrote that “not only helps our local restaurateurs, but also begins the process of a return to normalcy, which contributes to improved mental health and emotional well-being.

“With a decline in new COVID-19 cases across Niagara, we respectfully ask that you consider lifting the Section 22 restrictions for restaurants here in Niagara.”

“Expanding the dining limits beyond one household would be a much-needed boost to their revenues and everyone’s mental health and emotional well-being.”

In an email statement to the Niagara Falls Review, Hirji said public health is “very mindful” of the order’s impact on the region’s restaurant sector “after they’ve just come through a sixmonth period where they have not been able to serve customers in person.”

“However, we are also mindful that dining in person — which involves sitting in close proximity without masks — poses a unique exception within Step 1 of the province’s reopening, and therefore a uniquely large risk of infection transmission,” he said.

“In all other in-person interactions within Step 1, people must keep two metres distance and/or wear masks unless around members of their household.

“Unfortunately, no matter how diligent restaurant operators will be — and most are very diligent — having people two metres apart and wearing masks while dining at the same table is just not possible.”

Hirji said the risk of COVID-19 spreading is “inherent” in the activity of dining out.

“This past week we have already seen a case of COVID-19 transmission linked to a restaurant patio from a Niagara resident who dined in another jurisdiction,” he said.

“Ultimately, our goal is to keep residents of Niagara safe, and keep cases low so businesses don’t see any new round of restrictions or a new lockdown.”

Hirji said the risk of COVID-19 transmission is a “function of the number of infected people in one’s community and the degree of close contact with others.

“Given the close contact inherent in dining with others at the same table, we believe Niagara’s case numbers need to be lower to keep the risk of transmission low,” he said.

“Niagara is trending toward the benchmarks we have set for lifting the restriction of dining only with one’s household — fewer than 15 cases per 100,000 persons per week, and an effective reproductive number below 1.0.

“We look forward to Niagara reaching those targets so that our restaurant sector can continue to expand their business.”