Ontario reported 821 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, an increase of more than 100 from the day before, and is allowing dance studios in Toronto, Peel, York and Ottawa to reopen.
Owners of dance studios had been pushing for change since the four hot zones went into modified Stage 2 restrictions, and a government review determined they are at less risk of transmission than gyms and fitness centres, which were closed in addition to indoor dining at bars, restaurants and food courts.
“They informed us that they were able to keep enough distance, that they were able to do that in a safe way,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said of dance studios.
“I know it is really difficult for some business owners to understand why they can’t be open,” added Elliott, who acknowledged “we’re still having conversations with other groups.”
Premier Doug Ford said there are many “boutique” fitness operations coming forward to plead their cases. “We’ll be reviewing that,” he said.
Alex Kucharski, who owns an F45 Training studio in Richmond Hill and is a director of the Ontario Independent Fitness Studio Association, accused provincial health officials of making “arbitrary” decisions and putting thousands of businesses to the brink of failure in the pandemic.
“Fitness studios offer the same services as dance studios — aerobic exercises performed indoors — and are able to operate safely with the same restrictions,” he told the Star.
In a statement, the government said “dance styles such as ballet, hip hop, and ballroom can still be taught and practised safely when certain public health measures are followed.” Zumba classes remain shuttered.
At least 80 cases have been , which has prompted the government to review COVID-19 guidelines for gyms and fitness centres.
Opposition parties said Elliott’s explanations were less than clear, with Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca calling them “very confusing.”
“This government has a real problem with mixed messages,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath told reporters. “It doesn’t seem these decisions are well-thought out.”
The 16 per cent increase from 704 cases Monday came with a drop in testing to 24,049 nasal swabs processed at provincial labs, but Elliott said it’s “too early to say” if the rise could be blamed on Thanksgiving weekend gatherings.
Tuesday marked the fourth day with more than 800 new infections since a record 939 cases were reported on Oct. 9.
There were three more deaths, raising the toll to 3,053.
Toronto had 327 new cases and Peel 136, both increases from the previous day, while York had a decline to 64 and Ottawa was up more than two dozen to 79.
Cases doubled in Durham and Halton to 32 and 46 respectively, while Hamilton had 36, up from 17.
Across the province, hospitalizations increased by 22 people to 274, with 72 in intensive care and 45 ICU patients requiring ventilators to breathe.
The number of outbreaks in nursing homes increased by one to 87, with 23 more residents and 17 staff testing positive for the virus. At 59 nursing homes, the outbreaks involve only staff isolating at home and no residents are sick, said Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton.
and 508 schools with infections, which is just over 10 per cent of the 4,828 schools in the province. Four schools are closed because of outbreaks.
is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: