‘This needs to be the last lockdown’: Mississauga prepares for reopening

With many provincial COVID-19 restrictions set to be lifted on Monday, Mississauga’s mayor is welcoming to opportunity for businesses to begin reopening.

“The reality is that restaurants and gyms in Mississauga have faced longer closures than anywhere else in North America,” said Bonnie Crombie during her weekly press briefing. “The reopening on Monday will allow many of them to begin the road to recovery.”

That sentiment is being echoed by business owners across Mississauga, who hope the province will be able to stick to its reopening roadmap, which calls for most restrictions to be lifted over a two-month period.

“We are hopeful that the plan released by the province leading to a full reopening of the economy happens in March and that they are able to stick with it,” said Trevor McPherson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mississauga Board of Trade.

The first step of that reopening plan will see businesses like restaurants, gyms and theatres operating at 50 per cent of normal capacity. Crombie is among those who would rather see capacity restrictions remain in place as long as necessary in order to avoid another full closer.

“If we need to stay at 50 per cent capacity in certain settings because the trends warrant it, please don’t hesitate to do so,” said Crombie, while giving advice to the provincial government.

“This needs to be the last lockdown we see on businesses here in Mississauga. We have to keep moving forward. And I think the best way we continually move forward it by doing so cautiously and gradually.”

The head of the Mississauga Board of Trade claims that support from all levels of government has been inadequate for many businesses during January’s forced closure. He wants to see additional funding for rapid testing, along with clearer communication from provincial health officials.

“Government also needs to be transparent about the data behind the restrictions,” said McPherson. “Businesses need to see modeling that justifies the nature and timing of response measures and how they are successfully mitigating the virus or alleviating pressure on our overwhelmed health care system.”

The reopening comes as the Region of Peel marks a milestone, with more than 90 per cent of eligible residents having received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The push is now on to administer as many booster shots as possible over the coming days and weeks.

“Vaccinations, two doses plus boosters, remain are best protection and especially as contacts will increase as we continue in this period of transition with Omicron and reopening,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh, Medical Officer of Health for Peel Region.