Middlesex-London Health Unit issues new orders on limits in nightclubs, gatherings

The Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) has issued a new pair of orders that aim to double down on capacity limits for nightclubs and social gatherings.

The announcement comes as London sees an increase in student partying, along with concerns over the prevalence of the delta variant in the region.

"There's no doubt that the sorts of gatherings that are being planned do risk spreading COVID," said Dr. Chris Mackie, the medical officer of health for the MLHU. 

"One of the ways in which these sorts of events can be very problematic is that people might be embarrassed to go down and get tested, or they might want to try and protect a party organizer by not linking a case with their facility. And so you can see undetected spread, which can be even more dangerous because then we're not doing that case control and contact management. So it's really important that if anyone comes out of these events and has symptoms that they do go and get tested."

The Section 22 Class Orders are made under the provincial Health and Promotion Act and come into effect at 12:01 p.m. Thursday.

The first order reiterates limits placed on social gatherings as defined by the Reopening Ontario Act, which cap indoor gatherings at 25 people and limit outdoor gatherings to 100. 

This applies to any organized or informal public event or social gathering, held either on a street or private dwelling, including houses, apartment buildings, condos and post-secondary student residences.